❓ Question regarding the reliability of electronic monitoring (EM) in regional WA, specifically GPS monitoring, and potential contradictions in previous statements. The answer clarifies EM availability and addresses concerns about connectivity issues and communication with the courts.
AnsweredQoN 1141Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to your answer to QON 826 and your statement in Parliament on 21 October 2025 that "There is no place in Western Australia where electronic monitoring cannot be done", and I ask: (a) is that statement not contradictory to your answer that there are regional locations where GPS monitoring it not reliable; (b) given there are locations where GPS monitoring is not reliable, how could releasing that information compromise victim safety when GPS would not be used given the known issues; (c) are there any locations where the Department is aware of issues with GPS monitoring and there are offenders or accused offenders where GPS monitoring is currently a condition; and (d) since you disagree with the Courts that there are no issues with GPS monitoring in Bunbury and Katanning, what steps has the Department taken to correct the opinion of the Courts?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
5 days
(a) Electronic Monitoring (EM) is available across the whole State. A range of environmental factors might impact connectivity in some locations, as also outlined in QON 826.
(b) The factors that may impact EM at an individual residence are dynamic and to provide generic information about a particular regional location could be misleading.
(c) If issues are identified with connectivity, this information is provided to the Court if the monitored person is subject to Bail, or to the WA Police Force who may return the matter to Court.
(d) Adult Community Corrections (ACC) staff regularly attend both the Bunbury Magistrates Court and Katanning Magistrates Court and can provide immediate verbal information when called upon by the judicial officer and are able to confirm the availability of EM in that locale.
(b) The factors that may impact EM at an individual residence are dynamic and to provide generic information about a particular regional location could be misleading.
(c) If issues are identified with connectivity, this information is provided to the Court if the monitored person is subject to Bail, or to the WA Police Force who may return the matter to Court.
(d) Adult Community Corrections (ACC) staff regularly attend both the Bunbury Magistrates Court and Katanning Magistrates Court and can provide immediate verbal information when called upon by the judicial officer and are able to confirm the availability of EM in that locale.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.