❓ Mr Hort's question seeks detailed data on ChemCentre's drug certificate processing times and backlogs related to WA Police referrals. The answer states that the requested data is unavailable as ChemCentre processes cases, not individual requests, and prioritises based on urgency.
AnsweredQoN 539Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For each of the financial years 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, and year-to-date 2025–26, what has been: (a) the average time taken by ChemCentre to complete drug certificates arising from WA Police referrals; (b) the maximum time taken; and (c) the shortest time taken? (2) For each year in (1), how many drug certificate requests were received from WA Police, and how many were completed within: (a) 30 days; (b) 60 days; (c) 90 days; and (d) more than 90 days? (3) As at the date of this question, what is the current backlog of outstanding drug certificate requests at ChemCentre? (4) For (3), what is the average expected completion timeframe for these requests? (5) For each of the financial years since 2021–22, how many ChemCentre drug certificate requests have been returned to WA Police or the courts as inconclusive, incomplete, or otherwise unable to be finalised? (6) What service-level agreements or key performance indicators (KPIs), if any, currently apply to ChemCentre in relation to the timely processing of drug certificates for WA Police referrals? (7) For (6), what has been ChemCentre’s performance against those measures in each of the past four financial years and year-to-date 2025–26?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Science and Innovation
Response time
7 days
(1 -4) Referrals for testing from the Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) are received by the Chem Centre as cases, not as requests for individual analytical services, therefore the data requested is unavailable.
Cases received may include several exhibits to be examined, including but not limited to physical evidence, toxicology reports and drugs requiring certification. Each case may have several exhibits and samples to be tested, and it is not uncommon for examinations to generate subsamples that require further testing.
To support the timely prioritisation of a case, preliminary results are provided within 8-24 hours when requested. Case finalisation is prioritised initially upon receival and frequently adjusted to meet urgency and/or court requirements , in consultation with the WAPF.
The timeframes required to provide the drug certification within a case varies. Significant factors that impact timeframes to analyse exhibits include the number of samples and sub-samples produced during examination, the complexity of the sample matrix; format, weight and number substances to be tested as well as minimum preparation and extraction timeframes required to validate against standards.
(6-7) N/A
Cases received may include several exhibits to be examined, including but not limited to physical evidence, toxicology reports and drugs requiring certification. Each case may have several exhibits and samples to be tested, and it is not uncommon for examinations to generate subsamples that require further testing.
To support the timely prioritisation of a case, preliminary results are provided within 8-24 hours when requested. Case finalisation is prioritised initially upon receival and frequently adjusted to meet urgency and/or court requirements , in consultation with the WAPF.
The timeframes required to provide the drug certification within a case varies. Significant factors that impact timeframes to analyse exhibits include the number of samples and sub-samples produced during examination, the complexity of the sample matrix; format, weight and number substances to be tested as well as minimum preparation and extraction timeframes required to validate against standards.
(6-7) N/A
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