❓ The Minister for Police provides an update on wastewater drug testing results, highlighting a significant reduction in methamphetamine consumption in WA and a major cash seizure by the organised crime division. The Minister credits the government's strong stance and investment in police resources for these positive outcomes.
AnsweredQoN 896Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METHAMPHETAMINE —
WASTEWATER TESTING
896. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Police:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Kalamunda I would like to acknowledge the students and staff
from Walliston Primary School and thank them for visiting Parliament today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts in keeping Western Australia safe and strong by
tackling the scourge of methamphetamine in our community. Can the minister
update the house on what the latest wastewater drug testing results show about
the measures being undertaken by this government to tackle the supply of
methamphetamine in WA?
WASTEWATER TESTING
896. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Police:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Kalamunda I would like to acknowledge the students and staff
from Walliston Primary School and thank them for visiting Parliament today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts in keeping Western Australia safe and strong by
tackling the scourge of methamphetamine in our community. Can the minister
update the house on what the latest wastewater drug testing results show about
the measures being undertaken by this government to tackle the supply of
methamphetamine in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for Forrestfield for his excellent question and for his very
strong support of the Western Australia Police Force tackling the
scourge of methamphetamine in our community. It is not surprising that the
opposition has not asked me a question about those meth results. It has had
ample opportunity to do so.
The
fact of the matter is that on 29 October the Australian Criminal Intelligence
Commission released its national wastewater results. As people may know,
the ACIC takes results from seven sites in Western Australia, three
metropolitan and four regional. I can say to the house that based on those
wastewater results, the consumption of methamphetamine in our community is the
lowest on record. The reduction in meth consumption equates to over 290 000 fewer doses per day since the peak in
2016. That is around 93 000 fewer doses per day than there were in December 2019. This is a significant reduction
from that high at the end of 2016, when the Leader of the Opposition happened to be Minister for Police, to now. It is a hugely significant
reduction. It is 60 per cent lower than it was at the peak in 2016. It is now
well below the national average. Perth's result is the third lowest of
the state capitals, behind those of Hobart and Brisbane—a very
different ranking from what it was in 2016. Our rate is the second lowest of
all the states, just behind that of Tasmania. Regional WA was one of only two
regional state areas in which the rate of consumption of meth use fell. Of
course, our government has taken a very strong line on methamphetamine; we did
that from day one. We introduced additional penalties such as life imprisonment
for meth dealers. We committed to 120 extra personnel for our police. We have
invested in an amazing number of resources for our police to help them tackle
the scourge. People will be aware that our police have had significant results
in dealing with organised crime in the community and taking methamphetamine out
of the community.
I never thought I would get to see
what $9 million in cash looked like, but I saw that yesterday; it filled two
trestle tables at police headquarters. That
amount of cash was seized, along with at least four kilograms of
methamphetamine. There were two trucks, one in Meckering and one in
Coolgardie—a couple of vehicles. Police are still counting the cash, so $9 million is not the end of it. I am
told that previously the record amount of cash seized by any police force in
Australia was in New South Wales, and it was $8.5 million in cash. This seizure
already exceeds $9 million. It is an absolutely fantastic result by our
organised crime division. It shows that when we put in the resources and the effort, we can get really significant results. We know that this cash was
destined for New South Wales. Two men in one of the trucks were arrested; one
man was from New South Wales and one was from Queensland. That cash was heading
east, presumably to continue to fund the meth trade. The Western Australia
Police Force here has disrupted a major
organised crime syndicate. These are the kinds of results that make a huge
difference to the amount of methamphetamine entering our community.
Disrupting the supply chain is one part of it. Our government has had a comprehensive
meth action plan from day one, but this is the best result on record. Police
will not give up here. Our government will not give up here. We will continue
to target those people who peddle in this vile trade.
I
thank the member for Forrestfield for asking this question on such an important
issue because he knows, as I do, that methamphetamine destroys families and
drives crime in our community. People under its influence do things that they
would not normally do and that impacts very badly on their families. That is
why it has been a priority for us. I congratulate the organised crime squad and
the whole Western Australia Police Force for this fantastic result.
thank the member for Forrestfield for his excellent question and for his very
strong support of the Western Australia Police Force tackling the
scourge of methamphetamine in our community. It is not surprising that the
opposition has not asked me a question about those meth results. It has had
ample opportunity to do so.
The
fact of the matter is that on 29 October the Australian Criminal Intelligence
Commission released its national wastewater results. As people may know,
the ACIC takes results from seven sites in Western Australia, three
metropolitan and four regional. I can say to the house that based on those
wastewater results, the consumption of methamphetamine in our community is the
lowest on record. The reduction in meth consumption equates to over 290 000 fewer doses per day since the peak in
2016. That is around 93 000 fewer doses per day than there were in December 2019. This is a significant reduction
from that high at the end of 2016, when the Leader of the Opposition happened to be Minister for Police, to now. It is a hugely significant
reduction. It is 60 per cent lower than it was at the peak in 2016. It is now
well below the national average. Perth's result is the third lowest of
the state capitals, behind those of Hobart and Brisbane—a very
different ranking from what it was in 2016. Our rate is the second lowest of
all the states, just behind that of Tasmania. Regional WA was one of only two
regional state areas in which the rate of consumption of meth use fell. Of
course, our government has taken a very strong line on methamphetamine; we did
that from day one. We introduced additional penalties such as life imprisonment
for meth dealers. We committed to 120 extra personnel for our police. We have
invested in an amazing number of resources for our police to help them tackle
the scourge. People will be aware that our police have had significant results
in dealing with organised crime in the community and taking methamphetamine out
of the community.
I never thought I would get to see
what $9 million in cash looked like, but I saw that yesterday; it filled two
trestle tables at police headquarters. That
amount of cash was seized, along with at least four kilograms of
methamphetamine. There were two trucks, one in Meckering and one in
Coolgardie—a couple of vehicles. Police are still counting the cash, so $9 million is not the end of it. I am
told that previously the record amount of cash seized by any police force in
Australia was in New South Wales, and it was $8.5 million in cash. This seizure
already exceeds $9 million. It is an absolutely fantastic result by our
organised crime division. It shows that when we put in the resources and the effort, we can get really significant results. We know that this cash was
destined for New South Wales. Two men in one of the trucks were arrested; one
man was from New South Wales and one was from Queensland. That cash was heading
east, presumably to continue to fund the meth trade. The Western Australia
Police Force here has disrupted a major
organised crime syndicate. These are the kinds of results that make a huge
difference to the amount of methamphetamine entering our community.
Disrupting the supply chain is one part of it. Our government has had a comprehensive
meth action plan from day one, but this is the best result on record. Police
will not give up here. Our government will not give up here. We will continue
to target those people who peddle in this vile trade.
I
thank the member for Forrestfield for asking this question on such an important
issue because he knows, as I do, that methamphetamine destroys families and
drives crime in our community. People under its influence do things that they
would not normally do and that impacts very badly on their families. That is
why it has been a priority for us. I congratulate the organised crime squad and
the whole Western Australia Police Force for this fantastic result.
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