❓ Opposition questions the Premier on the government's response to the meth crisis, citing increased usage. The Premier refutes this, highlighting decreased usage and outlining government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 975Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH STAFF — ASSAULTS AGAINST
975. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the rate of meth use is higher now than when the Premier inherited
government three years ago and the fact that he has only 501 days left in this
term of office, when is he going to take this crisis seriously —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : — and
address the meth crisis swamping our emergency departments?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
hear this in silence. Start again.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to
order for the first time, Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Given that
the rate of meth use is higher now than it was three years ago when the Premier
inherited government, and the fact that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Start
again. We will be here all day, guys, if you are going to interject.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Given that
the rate of meth use is now higher than when the Premier inherited government
three years ago, what is the government going to do to address the meth crisis
that is swamping our emergency departments, and when is it going to start
taking this seriously, given that it has only 501 days left in office?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
975. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the rate of meth use is higher now than when the Premier inherited
government three years ago and the fact that he has only 501 days left in this
term of office, when is he going to take this crisis seriously —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : — and
address the meth crisis swamping our emergency departments?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I will
hear this in silence. Start again.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to
order for the first time, Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Given that
the rate of meth use is higher now than it was three years ago when the Premier
inherited government, and the fact that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Start
again. We will be here all day, guys, if you are going to interject.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Given that
the rate of meth use is now higher than when the Premier inherited government
three years ago, what is the government going to do to address the meth crisis
that is swamping our emergency departments, and when is it going to start
taking this seriously, given that it has only 501 days left in office?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
I
have noticed that the member for Dawesville, like his colleagues, has an
inability to process the first answer he hears and change his question
based upon the answer.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
asked me what we have done. His question was based upon a false premise. Meth
consumption in metropolitan Perth has decreased 25 per cent since October 2016,
when the opposition leader was the police
minister. That is what the wastewater testing shows. Meth consumption in
regional Western Australia has
decreased 25 per cent since the peak in August 2016. A 25 per cent decrease in
methamphetamine use, as shown through the wastewater treatment
verification process, is somehow, to members opposite, an increase—I
mean, honestly! Where do they get off with this sort of misleading conduct?
On the initiatives we have taken
since we have been in office, our methamphetamine action plan has put in place $244.8 million worth of initiatives against the
use of meth. As I outlined to members before, there are a whole range of
initiatives in enforcement, treatment and education. There are a whole range of
initiatives across the city and the regions. We understand that there is a big
problem out there—that is why we have taken action. We are doing things
to try to deal with an issue that got out of control over those eight and a half
years that the Liberal Party and the Nationals WA were in office. They did not
seem to recognise it even existed. We are putting in place a whole range of
issues, which I will not take members through again, even though I am being
encouraged to do so.
I
repeat to everyone in Western Australia: once someone takes this drug, it is
hard to get off it. I have gone and stood at sporting clubs in my electorate and I have watched a house across the
road that is regularly busted by police. People roll up in car after car
after car on a Friday afternoon to buy meth, and the police go and bust it, but
once people are on it, it is hard for them to get off. Some people think they
can manage it. Over time, it becomes unmanageable. My advice to everyone, as I have
said and advised to my own kids, is do not try it in the first place. That is
not a naive statement—that is a statement of fact. That is not a statement
that should be ignored. Do not go near it in the first place! If people do not
go near it in the first place, then they do not get into this downward spiral
that is so difficult to extricate oneself from.
have noticed that the member for Dawesville, like his colleagues, has an
inability to process the first answer he hears and change his question
based upon the answer.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member
asked me what we have done. His question was based upon a false premise. Meth
consumption in metropolitan Perth has decreased 25 per cent since October 2016,
when the opposition leader was the police
minister. That is what the wastewater testing shows. Meth consumption in
regional Western Australia has
decreased 25 per cent since the peak in August 2016. A 25 per cent decrease in
methamphetamine use, as shown through the wastewater treatment
verification process, is somehow, to members opposite, an increase—I
mean, honestly! Where do they get off with this sort of misleading conduct?
On the initiatives we have taken
since we have been in office, our methamphetamine action plan has put in place $244.8 million worth of initiatives against the
use of meth. As I outlined to members before, there are a whole range of
initiatives in enforcement, treatment and education. There are a whole range of
initiatives across the city and the regions. We understand that there is a big
problem out there—that is why we have taken action. We are doing things
to try to deal with an issue that got out of control over those eight and a half
years that the Liberal Party and the Nationals WA were in office. They did not
seem to recognise it even existed. We are putting in place a whole range of
issues, which I will not take members through again, even though I am being
encouraged to do so.
I
repeat to everyone in Western Australia: once someone takes this drug, it is
hard to get off it. I have gone and stood at sporting clubs in my electorate and I have watched a house across the
road that is regularly busted by police. People roll up in car after car
after car on a Friday afternoon to buy meth, and the police go and bust it, but
once people are on it, it is hard for them to get off. Some people think they
can manage it. Over time, it becomes unmanageable. My advice to everyone, as I have
said and advised to my own kids, is do not try it in the first place. That is
not a naive statement—that is a statement of fact. That is not a statement
that should be ignored. Do not go near it in the first place! If people do not
go near it in the first place, then they do not get into this downward spiral
that is so difficult to extricate oneself from.
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