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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 816 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 September 2022 by Hon Dr Brian Walker

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORRECTIVE SERVICES — PRISON OFFICERS — DRUG TESTING

816. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Corrective Services:

I refer the minister to the Prisons (Prison Officers Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulations 2016, as currently in force.

(1) How many presumptive positive tests have been recorded by WA prison officers for —

(a) methamphetamine;

(b) benzodiazepines;

(c) opioids; and

(d) THC this calendar year?

(2) How many prison officers returning a presumptive positive test in each of those categories provided a medical certificate to justify their use?

(3) How many prison officers, if any, have been —

(a) referred to the department's employee welfare unit for a review;

(b) had managerial interventions imposed;

(c) had removal action initiated against them; or

(d) had their permit to do high-level security work under section 15P of the act revoked, again in this calendar year?

(4) How many prison officers have resigned in this calendar year before any of the above actions could be undertaken as the result of them having returned a presumptive positive test?

Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) (a) Nil;

(b) six;

(c) 11;

(d) one.

(2) (a) Not applicable;

(b) six;

(c) 10—one had used their partner's medication;

(d) nil.

(3) (a) One—benzodiazepine DATB20220704-01 took more than prescribed dose.

(b)–(d) nil.

(4) One, of THC.