❓ Mr. Millman questions the Minister for Police on the government's strategy to combat methamphetamine use, referencing Operation Signal and wastewater analysis. The Minister responds by highlighting increased investment in police and a decrease in meth consumption, while criticizing the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 453Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METH ENFORCEMENT TASK
FORCE — POLICE
453. Mr S.A. MILLMAN to the Minister for Police:
Before I ask the question, I just
acknowledge a fantastic former Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Speaker's
gallery, former minister Hon Bob Kucera, who is still very popular in the
neighbourhood of Mt Lawley, and in particular, Yokine.
I refer to the success of Operation
Signal, which, as the minister outlined to the house last week, resulted in the
seizure 90 kilograms of drugs, including 75 kilograms of methamphetamine.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's record
investment in police is supporting its new broader strategy of continuing to
tackle the scourge of methamphetamine in our community?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what the latest wastewater results show about
methamphetamine use in WA?
FORCE — POLICE
453. Mr S.A. MILLMAN to the Minister for Police:
Before I ask the question, I just
acknowledge a fantastic former Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Speaker's
gallery, former minister Hon Bob Kucera, who is still very popular in the
neighbourhood of Mt Lawley, and in particular, Yokine.
I refer to the success of Operation
Signal, which, as the minister outlined to the house last week, resulted in the
seizure 90 kilograms of drugs, including 75 kilograms of methamphetamine.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan Labor government's record
investment in police is supporting its new broader strategy of continuing to
tackle the scourge of methamphetamine in our community?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what the latest wastewater results show about
methamphetamine use in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I certainly can
comment on our over $125 million additional investment, which as I have —
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : We hear
this nonsense from the opposition, and its members say, ''The budget has
been cut.'' The budget has been increased and the total number of
officers has been increased. They peddle lies and mistruths, Mr Speaker. The
fact of the matter is, they were promising —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
have asked a question; I want to hear the answer.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The fact of
the matter is that the former government promised zero extra police officers
had it been re-elected.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It had not
funded its meth team beyond 30 June 2017. That is when the funds ran out. It never
actually realised what an issue methamphetamine was. I can comment, member for
Mount Lawley, on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission national
wastewater monitoring. The fact is that meth consumption in Perth has decreased
over 20 per cent since its peak in December 2016—that is the peak of
meth consumption, and it is now 20 per cent lower in Perth than it was then.
Let us talk about regional Western Australia as well. In regional Western Australia,
it has decreased more than 10 per cent since the last report, and it is down by
25 per cent since August 2016. What I want to comment about is judging three
months to three months, and six months to six months. If we look at something
like meth, which people are addicted to, we cannot get people off it instantly
by interrupting supply. It is a long-term effort.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time. I warned you twice.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : What we
need to do is look at it over a decent period of time. We know that since
members opposite were in government, meth consumption, by those very reports,
is significantly down.
An opposition member interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
It was not me.
The SPEAKER : I withdraw it
then.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Yes, it is
hard to get it down lower. We are not satisfied with what are pretty good
results; we want to get even better results. That is why we are putting more
resources into our effort.
I will finish with this quote from
Assistant Commissioner Whiteley, where she commented in an article —
DUMA data documented the rise of the
meth problem in WA from 2009, when 15% of detainees tested positive, to 2018
where 65% tested positive.
So, back in 2009, 15 per cent of
detainees in lock-ups in Western Australia were testing positive for meth; by
2018, 65 per cent were testing positive for meth.
Hang your heads in shame.
comment on our over $125 million additional investment, which as I have —
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : We hear
this nonsense from the opposition, and its members say, ''The budget has
been cut.'' The budget has been increased and the total number of
officers has been increased. They peddle lies and mistruths, Mr Speaker. The
fact of the matter is, they were promising —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
have asked a question; I want to hear the answer.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The fact of
the matter is that the former government promised zero extra police officers
had it been re-elected.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : It had not
funded its meth team beyond 30 June 2017. That is when the funds ran out. It never
actually realised what an issue methamphetamine was. I can comment, member for
Mount Lawley, on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission national
wastewater monitoring. The fact is that meth consumption in Perth has decreased
over 20 per cent since its peak in December 2016—that is the peak of
meth consumption, and it is now 20 per cent lower in Perth than it was then.
Let us talk about regional Western Australia as well. In regional Western Australia,
it has decreased more than 10 per cent since the last report, and it is down by
25 per cent since August 2016. What I want to comment about is judging three
months to three months, and six months to six months. If we look at something
like meth, which people are addicted to, we cannot get people off it instantly
by interrupting supply. It is a long-term effort.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands!
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time. I warned you twice.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : What we
need to do is look at it over a decent period of time. We know that since
members opposite were in government, meth consumption, by those very reports,
is significantly down.
An opposition member interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Churchlands, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
It was not me.
The SPEAKER : I withdraw it
then.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Yes, it is
hard to get it down lower. We are not satisfied with what are pretty good
results; we want to get even better results. That is why we are putting more
resources into our effort.
I will finish with this quote from
Assistant Commissioner Whiteley, where she commented in an article —
DUMA data documented the rise of the
meth problem in WA from 2009, when 15% of detainees tested positive, to 2018
where 65% tested positive.
So, back in 2009, 15 per cent of
detainees in lock-ups in Western Australia were testing positive for meth; by
2018, 65 per cent were testing positive for meth.
Hang your heads in shame.
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