❓ Opposition questions the Premier about methamphetamine statistics, citing concerns over high consumption rates. The Premier defends the government's record, highlighting a 20% reduction in methamphetamine use and new initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 86Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METHAMPHETAMINE
86. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I refer to the highly concerning
drugs in wastewater statistics that were released today by the Australian
Criminal Intelligence Commission and revealed on the WAtoday website. I quote —
WA continues to report the highest
average methylamphetamine consumption in both capital city and regional sites
of all locations tested nationwide.
Other concerning results show
consumption increasing in Perth and the regions for serious drugs such as
cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl and heroin. Can the
Premier confirm that these latest statistics show his government has failed in tackling the supply, distribution and use of
methamphetamine and other drugs in the Western Australian community?
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Police, I call you to order
for the first time.
86. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I refer to the highly concerning
drugs in wastewater statistics that were released today by the Australian
Criminal Intelligence Commission and revealed on the WAtoday website. I quote —
WA continues to report the highest
average methylamphetamine consumption in both capital city and regional sites
of all locations tested nationwide.
Other concerning results show
consumption increasing in Perth and the regions for serious drugs such as
cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl and heroin. Can the
Premier confirm that these latest statistics show his government has failed in tackling the supply, distribution and use of
methamphetamine and other drugs in the Western Australian community?
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Police, I call you to order
for the first time.
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you. I am glad the member for
Hillarys asked me this question. The figures released today show a 20 per cent
reduction on the last set of figures under the last Liberal–National
government—20 per cent. That is half a tonne less methamphetamine out
in the community than when the Liberals and Nationals were in office—half
a tonne less.
We put in place a whole range of new
initiatives and I will run through them. The 120-strong meth border force to
support our efforts into the interdiction of methamphetamine coming into Western
Australia. We have put in place life penalties for meth traffickers, and we
have put in co-response teams working between police and the Mental Health
Commission to deal with incidences or people who might be affected by drugs or
methamphetamine. But when it comes to rehabilitation, members know we have put
in place the nation's first meth rehabilitation prison at Wandoo, and
we will be introducing a men's rehabilitation prison later this year or
next year. That will be a first for men, but we already have it in place for
women and every report I get is that it has been a fantastic initiative for
helping people get off methamphetamine. We will see a whole range of additional
treatment beds out there in the city and the regions.
No-one can pretend that this is an
easy problem to solve. Anyone who tells us that there are easy solutions to
this problem is not telling the truth. There
are people out there who are addicted, and it has been a major problem in our state for a long period of time. But the
figures show that the situation has improved over the past couple of years that this government has been in office. A 20 per cent reduction in methamphetamine
use is a significant improvement.
Hillarys asked me this question. The figures released today show a 20 per cent
reduction on the last set of figures under the last Liberal–National
government—20 per cent. That is half a tonne less methamphetamine out
in the community than when the Liberals and Nationals were in office—half
a tonne less.
We put in place a whole range of new
initiatives and I will run through them. The 120-strong meth border force to
support our efforts into the interdiction of methamphetamine coming into Western
Australia. We have put in place life penalties for meth traffickers, and we
have put in co-response teams working between police and the Mental Health
Commission to deal with incidences or people who might be affected by drugs or
methamphetamine. But when it comes to rehabilitation, members know we have put
in place the nation's first meth rehabilitation prison at Wandoo, and
we will be introducing a men's rehabilitation prison later this year or
next year. That will be a first for men, but we already have it in place for
women and every report I get is that it has been a fantastic initiative for
helping people get off methamphetamine. We will see a whole range of additional
treatment beds out there in the city and the regions.
No-one can pretend that this is an
easy problem to solve. Anyone who tells us that there are easy solutions to
this problem is not telling the truth. There
are people out there who are addicted, and it has been a major problem in our state for a long period of time. But the
figures show that the situation has improved over the past couple of years that this government has been in office. A 20 per cent reduction in methamphetamine
use is a significant improvement.
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