❓ Mr. Hort questions WA Police regarding delays in ChemCentre drug certificate processing and its impact on investigations, prosecutions, and remand. The Police Minister responds that the requested data is unavailable as referrals are treated as cases, not individual requests, and no formal reports have been provided.
AnsweredQoN 540Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For each of the financial years 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, and year-to-date 2025–26, how many referrals for drug certificates have WA Police made to ChemCentre? (2) For each year in (1), how many of those referrals remained outstanding for more than: (a) 30 days; (b) 60 days; (c) 90 days; and (d) 120 days? (3) As at the date of this question, how many WA Police matters are currently outstanding or delayed due to pending ChemCentre drug certificates? (4) For each of the financial years since 2021–22, how many prosecutions have been delayed or adjourned due to pending ChemCentre drug certificate results? (5) For (4), what has been the average length of delay? (6) What impact have delays in drug certificate processing had on the number of accused persons held on remand awaiting trial in each of the financial years since 2021–22? (7) How many cases have been discontinued, withdrawn, or otherwise not proceeded with due to ChemCentre being unable to provide drug certificates within a required timeframe? (8) What correspondence or formal reports has WA Police provided to the Minister or Government regarding ChemCentre turnaround times and their impact on investigations and prosecutions since 2021–22?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Police
Response time
7 days
(1-7) Referrals for testing from the Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) are received by the Chem Centre as cases, not as requests for individual analytical services, therefore the data requested is unavailable.
Cases received may include several exhibits to be examined, including but not limited to physical evidence, toxicology reports and drugs requiring certification. Each case may have several exhibits and samples to be tested, and it is not uncommon for examinations to generate subsamples that require further testing.
To support the timely prioritisation of a case, preliminary results are provided within 8-24 hours when requested. Case finalisation is prioritised initially upon receival and frequently adjusted to meet urgency and/or court requirements, in consultation with the WAPF.
The timeframes required to provide the drug certification within a case varies. Significant factors that impact timeframes to analyse exhibits include the number of samples and sub-samples produced during examination, the complexity of the sample matrix; format, weight and number substances to be tested as well as minimum preparation and extraction timeframes required to validate against standards.
(8) No correspondence or formal reports has been provided.
Cases received may include several exhibits to be examined, including but not limited to physical evidence, toxicology reports and drugs requiring certification. Each case may have several exhibits and samples to be tested, and it is not uncommon for examinations to generate subsamples that require further testing.
To support the timely prioritisation of a case, preliminary results are provided within 8-24 hours when requested. Case finalisation is prioritised initially upon receival and frequently adjusted to meet urgency and/or court requirements, in consultation with the WAPF.
The timeframes required to provide the drug certification within a case varies. Significant factors that impact timeframes to analyse exhibits include the number of samples and sub-samples produced during examination, the complexity of the sample matrix; format, weight and number substances to be tested as well as minimum preparation and extraction timeframes required to validate against standards.
(8) No correspondence or formal reports has been provided.
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