❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding the distribution of syringes to children, specifically citing reports of eight-year-olds receiving them. The Minister vehemently denies these claims, accusing Ms. Mettam of spreading misinformation and defending the harm-reduction strategy of needle and syringe programs.
AnsweredQoN 642Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FITPACKS — NEEDLE AND SYRINGE PROGRAM
642. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to answers provided in the
other place regarding the distribution of syringes in fitpacks by health
services in the Kimberley and the revelation that syringes were provided to
children as young as eight years old.
Does the minister believe that it is
appropriate for eight-year-old children to be provided with hypodermic syringes
and for clinical judgement to be utilised in enabling drug use in children?
642. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to answers provided in the
other place regarding the distribution of syringes in fitpacks by health
services in the Kimberley and the revelation that syringes were provided to
children as young as eight years old.
Does the minister believe that it is
appropriate for eight-year-old children to be provided with hypodermic syringes
and for clinical judgement to be utilised in enabling drug use in children?
AnswerView source ↗
First of all, I want to clarify the
misinformation that has been peddled by the Leader of the Liberal Party. At no
point in the answers to the upper house was it entertained that eight-year-olds
are being given needles. Go and read it! The information from Broome Hospital
was immediately reviewed when that was reported. None of those answers stated
that it was being handed to eight-year-old children. These are clinical staff
who engage in this important harm-minimisation project. Internal information
from Broome Hospital was immediately reviewed in light of the story that was
reported on and there is no evidence to suggest that an eight-year-old child was
provided a needle pack. Frontline staff are expressing concern about the
misinformation that is being reported, and they are very concerned around the
accuracy of that claim. The needle and syringe programs are a harm-reduction
strategy that has been used under all governments of all colours. They are a harm-reduction
strategy to prevent vulnerable people who inject drugs from getting bloodborne
viruses. When distributing these needle packs or fitpacks, clinical judgement
is used, and safety information is provided as well. These are frontline
clinicians who are part of this harm
minimisation. If there are concerns around child safety or other concerns, then
other agencies are notified. Just to be clear, in not one single answer
that was provided to the upper house—the member should correct the
record—did I provide any information or statement that claimed
eight-year-olds were being handed needles. It was in none of those answers. The
member should correct the record.
misinformation that has been peddled by the Leader of the Liberal Party. At no
point in the answers to the upper house was it entertained that eight-year-olds
are being given needles. Go and read it! The information from Broome Hospital
was immediately reviewed when that was reported. None of those answers stated
that it was being handed to eight-year-old children. These are clinical staff
who engage in this important harm-minimisation project. Internal information
from Broome Hospital was immediately reviewed in light of the story that was
reported on and there is no evidence to suggest that an eight-year-old child was
provided a needle pack. Frontline staff are expressing concern about the
misinformation that is being reported, and they are very concerned around the
accuracy of that claim. The needle and syringe programs are a harm-reduction
strategy that has been used under all governments of all colours. They are a harm-reduction
strategy to prevent vulnerable people who inject drugs from getting bloodborne
viruses. When distributing these needle packs or fitpacks, clinical judgement
is used, and safety information is provided as well. These are frontline
clinicians who are part of this harm
minimisation. If there are concerns around child safety or other concerns, then
other agencies are notified. Just to be clear, in not one single answer
that was provided to the upper house—the member should correct the
record—did I provide any information or statement that claimed
eight-year-olds were being handed needles. It was in none of those answers. The
member should correct the record.
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