Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Water regarding the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program's data on methamphetamine consumption in WA, particularly in regional areas, and the coverage of wastewater treatment plants. The Minister deflects, stating it's a federal program.

AnsweredQoN 170Legislative Council
Asked
14 March 2024
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

NATIONAL WASTEWATER DRUG
MONITORING PROGRAM
170. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Water:
I refer to the latest Australian
Crime Intelligence Commission report on the national wastewater drug monitoring
program, released yesterday, which showed that Western Australia's meth
consumption had surged by 40 per cent in the past year, with the highest
averages being noted in regional communities.
(1) Given that
the report is based on data from 60 wastewater treatment plants, including
seven in WA, but only covers 57 per cent of Australia's population, can
the minister inform the house of the locations of the seven treatment plants in
WA and the percentage of the WA population covered by those plants?
(2) Can the minister provide a list of any sizeable
areas within the state that are not currently covered by this testing?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The minister has provided me with the following answer.
(1)–(2) The
national wastewater drug monitoring program is an Australian federal government
program. As such, any questions relating to this program need to be directed to
the Australian federal government.

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