❓ The Minister for Mines and Petroleum addresses concerns about illicit drug use on WA mine sites, highlighting collaboration with police and a zero-tolerance approach, particularly regarding FIFO workers and amphetamine use.
AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING
INDUSTRY — ILLICIT DRUG USE
188. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
Could the minister please update the house on current efforts
to prevent illicit drug use on mine sites in Western Australia?
INDUSTRY — ILLICIT DRUG USE
188. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
Could the minister please update the house on current efforts
to prevent illicit drug use on mine sites in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for asking a very important
question. Safety in the mining industry is paramount. It is inherently a dangerous
place to work in. I have to say that I must congratulate the industry for its
statistics being half those of the construction industry. On the whole, the
mining industry does an extremely good job keeping the number of injuries down
in that sector. Obviously, we are aiming for zero injuries but we have more to
do around the safety culture to get there. If drugs are brought into mining
sites, that adds another layer of concern to companies, so there must be
absolute zero tolerance of drugs in the mining industry. I was very pleased to
be made aware that the gold stealing detection unit in Kalgoorlie has come on
board. There is cooperation between my Department of Mines and Petroleum, which
is responsible for regulating safety in the industry, in liaising with the
police department, so I thank the Minister for Police for allowing the gold
stealing detection unit to come on board. That unit led a drug screening
operation at Leonora Airport last month. It has indicated that it will continue
to do this throughout the year at specific sites. The supply and use of
amphetamines, particularly among fly in, fly out workers, is of concern to this
government and, indeed, we intend to do something about it. In the mining
industry, an industry that is inherently risky, we realise that drugs cannot be
involved and I congratulate and thank the Minister for Police for her
cooperation in making sure that we eradicate drugs from mining sites in Western
Australia.
question. Safety in the mining industry is paramount. It is inherently a dangerous
place to work in. I have to say that I must congratulate the industry for its
statistics being half those of the construction industry. On the whole, the
mining industry does an extremely good job keeping the number of injuries down
in that sector. Obviously, we are aiming for zero injuries but we have more to
do around the safety culture to get there. If drugs are brought into mining
sites, that adds another layer of concern to companies, so there must be
absolute zero tolerance of drugs in the mining industry. I was very pleased to
be made aware that the gold stealing detection unit in Kalgoorlie has come on
board. There is cooperation between my Department of Mines and Petroleum, which
is responsible for regulating safety in the industry, in liaising with the
police department, so I thank the Minister for Police for allowing the gold
stealing detection unit to come on board. That unit led a drug screening
operation at Leonora Airport last month. It has indicated that it will continue
to do this throughout the year at specific sites. The supply and use of
amphetamines, particularly among fly in, fly out workers, is of concern to this
government and, indeed, we intend to do something about it. In the mining
industry, an industry that is inherently risky, we realise that drugs cannot be
involved and I congratulate and thank the Minister for Police for her
cooperation in making sure that we eradicate drugs from mining sites in Western
Australia.
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