Hon Christine Sharp asks about the Drug Court's alleged closure and resource issues at the Court Assessment and Treatment Service (CATS). Hon N.D. Griffiths denies the closure and states CATS staffing issues have been resolved.

AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Council
Asked
9 August 2001
Portfolio
Justice and Legal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Can the minister confirm that the Drug Court was closed by Magistrate Paul Heaney on Monday, 30 July? (2) If yes, for how long was it closed? (3) If yes, for what reason was it closed? (4) Can the minister confirm whether the workload for the Court Assessment and Treatment Service - the referral agency at the Drug Court - has become so great that no new cases will be heard by the court until the service receives more resources? (5) If yes, for how long is this situation expected to continue? (6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(2) If yes, for how long was it closed? (3) If yes, for what reason was it closed? (4) Can the minister confirm whether the workload for the Court Assessment and Treatment Service - the referral agency at the Drug Court - has become so great that no new cases will be heard by the court until the service receives more resources? (5) If yes, for how long is this situation expected to continue? (6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(3) If yes, for what reason was it closed? (4) Can the minister confirm whether the workload for the Court Assessment and Treatment Service - the referral agency at the Drug Court - has become so great that no new cases will be heard by the court until the service receives more resources? (5) If yes, for how long is this situation expected to continue? (6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(4) Can the minister confirm whether the workload for the Court Assessment and Treatment Service - the referral agency at the Drug Court - has become so great that no new cases will be heard by the court until the service receives more resources? (5) If yes, for how long is this situation expected to continue? (6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(5) If yes, for how long is this situation expected to continue? (6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(6) If yes, what resources will be provided to CATS? (7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(7) If no, from what date will the Drug Court be hearing new cases? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(1) On Monday, 30 July 2001, the Drug Court was presided over by Drug Court Magistrate Julie Wager, as normal. (2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(2)-(3) Not applicable. (4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(4) New cases are being heard by the Drug Court as normal.  The CATS had a short period of being understaffed while vacancies were being filled.  This situation is now rectified. (5)-(7) Not applicable.
(5)-(7) Not applicable.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more