Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 1456

❓ Mr. Love questions the WA Police regarding the destruction of firearms via explosive means, seeking details on costs, location, safety protocols, and ministerial involvement. The WA Police Force declined to answer citing public safety and operational security.

AnsweredQoN 1456Legislative Assembly

Asked

16 October 2024

Member

Mr R.S. Love

Portfolio

Police

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the West Australian media article on 11 September titled 'More than 38,000 firearms handed in as Government buyback wraps up' which included vision supplied by WA Police showing the destruction of firearms via explosive means and I ask, in reference to this explosion: (a) Was the Police Media Unit responsible for the production and filming of this vision: (i) If not, who or what company was contracted to produce and/or film and what was the total cost of the contract; (b) What was the total cost of the production and filming of this vision inclusive of all associated costs: (i) Please breakdown costs (travel, equipment, FTE, etc); (c) What was the exact address at which the explosion took place: (i) If unable to provide the exact address, please detail why an exact address is unable to be provided; and (ii) If unable to provide the exact address, please provide the suburb as to which the explosion took place; (d) As per the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007, was a blast plan prepared: (i) If yes, will you please table the blast plan: (A) If not, why not; (ii) If yes, who specifically prepared the blast plan; and (iii) If not, why not: (A) Was there any other plan of a similiar nature to a blast plan prepared? If so, what; (e) On what traditional lands did the explosion take place: (i) Was approval sought by the traditional custodians of the land; and (ii) Was the blast area surveyed by a traditional custodian: (A) If not, why not; and (B) If yes, please detail the total cost of the survey; (f) What was the specific number of firearms that were destroyed in the explosion: (i) Please breakdown by firearm category; (g) What was the date the explosion took place; (h) What was the rationale for releasing the vision to the public: (i) Did the Minister or his office have any involvement in the approval or release of the vision; and (ii) Did the Minister or his office request the vision be filmed and/or released; (i) What was the total radius of the blast; (j) Were the firearms disabled prior to explosion: (i) If not, why not; (k) What is the estimated cost of the clean up of the explosion; (l) Did the Minister of Police possess a firearm licence at the time of the explosion; and (m) Did the Premier possess a firearm licence at the time of the explosion?