Hon Wilson Tucker, on behalf of Hon Dr Brian Walker, inquires about wastewater analysis for psychoactive substances in WA prisons. The Minister confirms testing occurs at several sites, with results reported to the Department of Justice.

AnsweredQoN 1548Legislative Council
Asked
29 November 2023
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

WASTEWATER ANALYSIS — PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
1548. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon
Dr Brian Walker. I refer the minister to a recent paper published by British academics based upon wastewater analysis of
psychoactive substances, including cannabis, in a Northern Irish prison.
(1) Do Western Australian corrective services
undertake any site-specific testing of wastewater at prison sites?
(2) If yes to (1), where and how
often are the results published?
(3) If no to (1), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Dr Brian Walker for some
notice of his question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Corrective Services.
The Department of Justice advises
the following.
(1) Yes.
(2) Collections are conducted at Wandoo Rehabilitation
Prison, the Mallee rehabilitation unit at Casuarina Prison and Bunbury
Regional Prison three to four times a year. Samples are analysed by the
University of Queensland and Flinders University in South Australia and results
reported to the Department of Justice.
(3) Not
applicable.

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