❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Police about mandatory blood tests for offenders who assault police or emergency workers. The Minister expresses support for the idea and acknowledges ongoing discussions with stakeholders.
AnsweredQoN 602Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — OFFENDER BLOOD TESTING
602. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
(1) Has the
minister had any discussions with stakeholders about mandatory blood tests for
offenders who assault police or other emergency workers?
(2) If so,
which stakeholders has the minister discussed the issue with?
(3) In
particular, has the minister discussed this issue with the Minister for Health?
(4) Does the
minister understand the importance of this issue?
602. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
(1) Has the
minister had any discussions with stakeholders about mandatory blood tests for
offenders who assault police or other emergency workers?
(2) If so,
which stakeholders has the minister discussed the issue with?
(3) In
particular, has the minister discussed this issue with the Minister for Health?
(4) Does the
minister understand the importance of this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I
thank the member for this question. I have discussed the issue of mandatory
blood testing for police officers where the potential —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : It is for offenders, not the police officers.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I beg the member's pardon.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You blood test the offenders, the people who assault the
police officers.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I am just trying to be clear on the question that has been
asked. My conversations around mandatory blood testing have been twofold. There is an issue around police
officers and other potential emergency service workers who have been bitten by
an offender. We are certainly
having some discussions around the possibility of compelling blood testing of
an offender who has bitten a police officer or emergency service worker.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Do you have any legislation or not?
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We are in the very early stages of discussions. I am yet to
have further discussions with the Minister for Health on this issue, but I
would like to put on the record
that I think it is a very good idea. There
is not enough time in this session of Parliament to deal with it or
introduce legislation, but at this stage my discussions with the police
executive and the Western Australian Police Union have been very positive. I am
certainly interested in progressing that.
To give members a bit of background
on this, presently if police
officers are bitten or spat on by an offender, we cannot compel the offenders
to be blood tested for serious diseases such as HIV–AIDS or hepatitis.
I think there is some merit in being able to compel those offenders to provide
a sample of their blood so they
can be tested for diseases. At present, officers and emergency workers who have
been bitten undergo a series of tests and it may take many, many months before
the officers can get the results. During that period of waiting, they and their
families are on tenterhooks as whether they may have contracted a serious
illness as a result of the offender biting them or spitting on them is
determined. It is certainly something that has been raised with me. It is an
area that I am interested in progressing.
Members will appreciate that with
the short time left in the spring session of Parliament, it is highly unlikely
that we will be able to have legislation ready before Parliament rises.
However, it is something that is high on my list of priorities to bring forward
next year. Certainly, any government next year should have it high on its list
of priorities to bring it forward to protect our emergency workers.
thank the member for this question. I have discussed the issue of mandatory
blood testing for police officers where the potential —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : It is for offenders, not the police officers.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I beg the member's pardon.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : You blood test the offenders, the people who assault the
police officers.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : I am just trying to be clear on the question that has been
asked. My conversations around mandatory blood testing have been twofold. There is an issue around police
officers and other potential emergency service workers who have been bitten by
an offender. We are certainly
having some discussions around the possibility of compelling blood testing of
an offender who has bitten a police officer or emergency service worker.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Do you have any legislation or not?
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : We are in the very early stages of discussions. I am yet to
have further discussions with the Minister for Health on this issue, but I
would like to put on the record
that I think it is a very good idea. There
is not enough time in this session of Parliament to deal with it or
introduce legislation, but at this stage my discussions with the police
executive and the Western Australian Police Union have been very positive. I am
certainly interested in progressing that.
To give members a bit of background
on this, presently if police
officers are bitten or spat on by an offender, we cannot compel the offenders
to be blood tested for serious diseases such as HIV–AIDS or hepatitis.
I think there is some merit in being able to compel those offenders to provide
a sample of their blood so they
can be tested for diseases. At present, officers and emergency workers who have
been bitten undergo a series of tests and it may take many, many months before
the officers can get the results. During that period of waiting, they and their
families are on tenterhooks as whether they may have contracted a serious
illness as a result of the offender biting them or spitting on them is
determined. It is certainly something that has been raised with me. It is an
area that I am interested in progressing.
Members will appreciate that with
the short time left in the spring session of Parliament, it is highly unlikely
that we will be able to have legislation ready before Parliament rises.
However, it is something that is high on my list of priorities to bring forward
next year. Certainly, any government next year should have it high on its list
of priorities to bring it forward to protect our emergency workers.
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