❓ Mr. Whitely questions the Minister for Police, Mr. Johnson, regarding conflicting figures in a police press release about drug overdose deaths. The Minister admits he doesn't have the information readily available and promises to provide an answer later.
AnsweredQoN 836Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS — POLICE PRESS RELEASE
I refer to a press release put out by police media on 18 November 2011, which states — Year to date, there have been 66 suspected drug overdose deaths, 14 of which are suspected to be heroin related. Additionally, there have been 52 reported deaths linked to the suspected abuse of prescription type drugs during the same period. Minister, the media report was somewhat ambiguous. I am asking whether the 66 suspected drug overdose deaths include the 52 deaths attributed to prescription drugs or whether the total number of drug overdose deaths in 2011 identified by the police on 18 November is 118? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I refer to a press release put out by police media on 18 November 2011, which states — Year to date, there have been 66 suspected drug overdose deaths, 14 of which are suspected to be heroin related. Additionally, there have been 52 reported deaths linked to the suspected abuse of prescription type drugs during the same period. Minister, the media report was somewhat ambiguous. I am asking whether the 66 suspected drug overdose deaths include the 52 deaths attributed to prescription drugs or whether the total number of drug overdose deaths in 2011 identified by the police on 18 November is 118? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
The member should have given me a bit of notice of the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: The member should have given me a bit of notice of the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The member should have given me a bit of notice of the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: The member should have given me a bit of notice of the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The member should have given me a bit of notice of the question. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : It was in Saturday’s paper: this was put out by your own department on 18 November. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : No; this was put out by WA Police and not by my — Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : We are talking about either 66 or 118 people who died. Don’t you know? The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked the question and I believe the Minister for Police is endeavouring to answer it. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Mr Speaker, I do not have the information with me. I do not think I have, unless I have it in my papers somewhere. Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : I can’t believe that you don’t know. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will try to get the answer for the member before the close of business. Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
Mr M.P. Whitely : But you should know. It was in Saturday’s paper.
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