Questions on Notice

Brian's Questions on Notice

Simplifying government responses into plain facts.

Asked 15 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

Confiscation proceeds were allocated to grants, legal centres, Crime Stoppers, prosecutors and police.

The answer gives five-year Confiscation Proceeds Account allocations. It also says no separate allocations were made for several listed investigation, locating, storage or management purposes.

Criminal Property Confiscation Grants Program funded

Yes

Community Legal Centres allocation listed

$3m each year

Separate allocations for several investigation/storage purposes

QON 1684

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

Police record a THC result. They do not have to record whether the driver was impaired.

The government answer says officers use a Form 4 assessment when they suspect drug impairment. But officers are not required to record observable impairment indicators when a driver returns a positive THC result.

Positive THC roadside test

Recorded

Observable impairment record required

QON 1683

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

Police supplied the enforcement map. They have not assessed the regional patient impact.

The answer gives five years of THC-positive roadside test totals for every WA Police district, but says WA Police and the Road Safety Commission have not assessed whether the law disproportionately affects regional medicinal cannabis patients.

Armadale

1,148

Midland

1,147

South West

984

Mirrabooka

975

Joondalup

966

Mandurah

937

Mid West-Gascoyne

733

Great Southern

676

Wheatbelt

590

Fremantle

478

Cannington

407

Perth

334

Pilbara

310

Goldfields-Esperance

213

Kimberley

113

All 15 districts from the answer, total THC-positive roadside oral-fluid tests from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

QON 1682

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

WA Police cannot quickly count how many THC-only driving cases went to court.

Brian asked for THC-only court numbers and enforcement costs. The answer says the court count would require extensive manual data work, and costs are not recorded by drug type.

THC-only court cases quickly reportable

THC enforcement costs recorded by drug type

Traffic infringements used for drug driving

QON 1681

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

The roadside THC device threshold is listed. Patient detection-window advice is not.

The answer names the Securetec Drugwipe II Twin and Combo devices and gives a THC cut-off of 50ng/mL. On detection-window advice for lawful medicinal cannabis patients, the answer says WA Police rely on laboratory confirmation.

Roadside devices named

Yes

THC cut-off stated

50ng/mL

Patient detection-window advice provided

QON 1679

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

WA Police cannot quickly report how many drivers were charged for THC presence.

The answer says section 64AC THC-presence offences can only be manually extracted, which would require unrealistic time and resources. It also says traffic infringement notices cannot be issued for those offences.

THC-presence charge count quickly reportable

Traffic infringement notices available

QON 1673

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

A government review into confiscation laws used 691.5 hours of staff time. The cost put on that time was $79,470.

Brian asked for the approximate cost of the staff time used to produce the Wayne Martin criminal confiscation report. The answer gives the figure as $79,470.

Government staff time previously disclosed

691.5 hours

Approximate cost now disclosed

$79,470

QON 1672

Asked 8 June 2026 - Answered 10 Aug 2026

Since mid-2022, crime-used confiscation has covered about $97.4 million in property.

The answer lists six property categories confiscated under crime-used provisions since 14 June 2022. Cash is the largest line, but land and other property are also substantial.

Cash

1,293 items

$75.7m

Other

18 items

$15.8m

Land

9 items

$4.6m

Accounts

34 items

$984,290

Jewellery

20 items

$205,076

Vehicles

7 items

$173,023

All six rows from the main property table in the answer.

QON 1413

Asked 18 Mar 2026 - Answered 11 May 2026

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board says it has no Fremantle Cemetery renewal plan.

Brian asked about protecting significant graves at Fremantle Cemetery. The answer says the board is not undertaking, and has no plans to enact, cemetery renewal there.

Fremantle Cemetery renewal underway

Renewal currently planned

QON 658

Asked 13 Oct 2025 - Answered 17 Nov 2025

The new C-series trains carry more people, but generated 64 noise or vibration complaints.

The answer says a six-car C-series train weighs 252.0 tonnes and has a normal payload capacity of 1,290 passengers. It also records 64 noise or vibration complaints, with only two further complaints after the issue was resolved in April 2025.

C-series normal capacity

1,290 passengers

B-series normal capacity

1,098-1,150 passengers

Noise/vibration complaints

QON 652

Asked 13 Oct 2025 - Answered 17 Nov 2025

The Matilda Bay and Applecross ferry answer lists consultation, but rules out private use of the new terminals.

The answer lists boating, rowing, university, local government, resident, business and other groups consulted before the ferry terminal applications. It says the terminal infrastructure will be for PTA ferries only, and that no parking is being provided at Applecross.

Matilda Bay site intersects A Class reserve

Yes

Private river taxis can use new PTA terminals

Parking provided at Applecross

QON 651

Asked 13 Oct 2025 - Answered 17 Nov 2025

Regional Pensioner Travel Cards are forecast to keep growing, but only four years ahead.

The answer says 60,185 cards were issued in 2024-25, and gives estimates only to 2028-29 because the department forecasts a maximum of four out years.

2024-25 issued

60,185

2025-26 estimate

61,991

2026-27 estimate

63,850

2027-28 estimate

65,766

2028-29 estimate

67,739

Card volume estimate supplied in the answer.

QON 650

Asked 13 Oct 2025 - Answered 17 Nov 2025

A coastal shipping commission with no staff still spent $87,992 last year.

The answer says the WA Coastal Shipping Commission has no staff, spent $87,992 last financial year, and remains in place to maintain insurance coverage for historical compensation claims.

Commission staff

Spent last financial year

$87,992

Claims processed over 10 years

QON 524

Asked 8 Sept 2025 - Answered 13 Oct 2025

WA Health says it does not have access to GP-to-population ratio data.

Brian asked for WA GP-to-population ratios and metro/regional breakdowns. The answer says WA Health does not have access to primary health data and points to the Productivity Commission instead.

GP-to-population ratio requested

Yes

Held by WA Health

QON 523

Asked 8 Sept 2025 - Answered 13 Oct 2025

WA Health's clinical workforce grew across all five health service providers in the table.

The answer gives clinical and non-clinical full-time equivalent staffing for June 2023, June 2024 and June 2025. Each clinical provider row increased over that period.

South Metropolitan

8,253

North Metropolitan

7,239

WA Country

6,316

East Metropolitan

6,065

Child & Adolescent

3,665

Clinical full-time equivalent staffing at June 2025, from the answer table.

QON 170

Asked 21 May 2025 - Answered 23 June 2025

WA Police said officers do have formal guidance on confiscating medicinal cannabis.

Brian asked whether WA Police officers have guidance on when it may be appropriate to confiscate legally prescribed medicinal cannabis. The answer says yes, and refers to a tabled paper.

Formal guidance exists

Yes

Guidance tabled

Yes

QON 104

Asked 29 Apr 2025 - Answered 16 June 2025

Bonus payments from confiscation proceeds reached $4.95 million in 2022-23.

The answer lists Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions bonus payment eligibility by financial year. It records no bonus payment in 2017-18, then rising figures in later years.

2022-23

$4.9m

2021-22

$4.8m

2023-24

$2.3m

2019-20

$1.9m

2020-21

$1.9m

2016-17

$876,877

2018-19

$511,928

2017-18

No bonus payment

QON 83

Asked 9 Apr 2025 - Answered 20 May 2025

WA Health said no state hospitals were managing cannabis trials.

Brian asked about hospital-based cannabis trials after a Sydney hospital CBD trial. The answer says no WA state hospitals were managing cannabis trials and that WA Health was not funding hospital-based trials.

WA state hospital cannabis trials

WA Health funding hospital-based cannabis trials

Health research support available through ethics process

Yes

QON 2201

Asked 14 Oct 2024 - Answered 25 Nov 2024

Police reported no charges or fines for three Mental Health Act offence sections.

Brian asked about fines for ill-treatment, unauthorised restraint, and unauthorised seclusion under the Mental Health Act. WA Police answered nil charges for all three.

Ill-treatment section

0 charges/fines

Bodily restraint section

0 charges/fines

Seclusion section

0 charges/fines

QON 2051

Asked 15 May 2024 - Answered 17 June 2024

The government says it still has a formal partnership with local government.

The answer points to the State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement 2023-24 to 2027-28, jointly signed in September 2023, which guarantees local governments 20 per cent of State vehicle licence fee collections for local roads.

Formal partnership

Yes

Vehicle licence fee revenue for local roads

20%

Agreement period

2023-24 to 2027-28

QON 2050

Asked 15 May 2024 - Answered 17 June 2024

The Mental Health Commission does not hold the fine figures Brian asked for.

The answer says alleged Mental Health Act offences are referred to WA Police for investigation and prosecution, and that the Minister for Mental Health has no power to issue, investigate or prosecute fines.

Minister can issue, investigate or prosecute fines

Mental Health Commission holds requested fine figures

Offences referred to WA Police

Yes

QON 1749

Asked 13 Nov 2023 - Answered 26 Feb 2024

The Information Commissioner had 188 active external reviews on hand.

As at 30 November 2023, the answer says 188 active external reviews were on hand. Sixty-five had been waiting more than 12 months, and the government had approved extra funding for workload and systems.

Less than 3 months

22%

3-6 months

16%

6-12 months

27%

More than 12 months

35%

Active external reviews by age range as at 30 November 2023.

QON 1666

Asked 9 Oct 2023 - Answered 13 Nov 2023

The Local Government Minister had not delegated his section 9.13A authority.

Brian asked whether the Minister had delegated authority under section 9.13A of the Local Government Act since 30 June 2020. The answer was no, with the remaining parts not applicable.

Authority delegated since 30 June 2020

Further delegation details applicable

QON 1646

Asked 19 Sept 2023 - Answered 13 Nov 2023

WA hospitals recorded 70 under-18 emergency attendances involving cannabis.

The answer says 70 under-18 patients attended WA hospitals as a direct or indirect result of cannabis use, representing 20.7 per cent of emergency presentations that involved cannabis.

Under-18 attendances

Share of cannabis-related emergency presentations

20.7%

QON 1647

Asked 19 Sept 2023 - Answered 6 Nov 2023

In fatality data involving cannabis, most cases also involved other drugs or alcohol.

For 2021 and 2022, the answer separates cases involving cannabis alone from cases involving cannabis with other drugs and/or alcohol.

2021 cannabis alone

2021 cannabis plus others

2022 cannabis alone

2022 cannabis plus others

QON 1665

Asked 9 Oct 2023 - Answered 18 Oct 2023

No local government financial audits had been dispensed with under section 7.12AC.

Brian asked how often the Local Government Act provision allowing an auditor to dispense with a financial audit had been used since 30 June 2020. The answer was none.

Provision used since 30 June 2020

Local government audits affected

QON 1593

Asked 30 Aug 2023 - Answered 9 Oct 2023

Police said similar compounds may trigger a presumptive roadside drug result.

The answer says compounds with a similar structure to the target compound may produce a positive result if present in sufficient quantities, with validity ultimately tested by laboratory confirmation.

Similar compounds may produce a positive presumptive result

Yes

Laboratory confirmation still required

Yes

Separate sunflower category proposed

QON 1506

Asked 8 Aug 2023 - Answered 11 Sept 2023

WAEC said three local government electoral offences had been prosecuted since 2019.

Brian asked how many electoral offences WAEC or contracted returning officers had prosecuted since the 2019 local government elections. The answer gives the number as three.

Prosecutions since 2019

QON 1505

Asked 8 Aug 2023 - Answered 11 Sept 2023

Police do not have jurisdiction to prosecute Local Government Act offences.

The answer says alleged local government electoral offences are best directed to the returning officer or WAEC, though some reports may also be made to WA Police depending on the offence.

Police can prosecute Local Government Act electoral offences

Police can prosecute Local Government Act offences generally

Some alleged offences may still be reported to police

Yes

QON 1504

Asked 8 Aug 2023 - Answered 11 Sept 2023

The Minister said section 9.13A was not used for local government electoral offences.

The answer says section 9.13A applies only to continuing contraventions, not individual offences. It also says the power had been used nil times.

Section 9.13A applies to individual offences

Ministerial uses reported

New early intervention powers being developed

Yes

QON 1474

Asked 12 June 2023 - Answered 7 Aug 2023

ChemCentre received 29 driver fatality cases with cannabis traces in 2022.

The answer says there were 175 road fatalities in WA in 2022. ChemCentre WA received 124 driver fatality cases in 2022, with 29 recording cannabis trace detection.

2022 WA road fatalities

175

2022 driver cases received by ChemCentre

124

2022 cannabis trace detections

QON 1130

Asked 23 Nov 2022 - Answered 13 Feb 2023

In 2022, WA courts recorded 5,009 cannabis possession charges lodged.

The answer also records 4,851 convictions for possession charges finalised in 2022, while warning that lodged and finalised charge data cannot be directly compared year-for-year.

Possession charges lodged in 2022

5,009

Finalised possession charges with convictions

4,851

The answer says lodgement and conviction counts cannot be directly compared because charges can be laid in one year and finalised in another.

QON 1123

Asked 21 Nov 2022 - Answered 13 Feb 2023

WA Police had contributed to the review of the old Cannabis Control Act.

The answer says WA Police contributed to the review of the Cannabis Control Act 2003, and that the review report contained details of police costs for the Cannabis Infringement Notice scheme.

WA Police contributed to the review

Yes

Police cost details included in review report

Yes

Report tabled in Parliament

29 Nov 2007

QON 1079

Asked 25 Oct 2022 - Answered 28 Nov 2022

WA Health removed e-liquid information from its website in September 2019.

The answer says the Department of Health approved the website change as an operational decision, with no involvement from the Minister or ministerial office and no new legal advice beforehand.

E-liquid information removed

Sep 2019

Minister or office involved

New legal advice received before removal

QON 780

Asked 8 Aug 2022 - Answered 20 Sept 2022

WAEC said it had not initiated 2021 local government electoral offence prosecutions.

The answer says WAEC had not initiated prosecutions under the Local Government Act arising from the 2021 local government elections. It also identifies Court of Disputed Returns proceedings for Belmont and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.

WAEC prosecutions initiated

Court of Disputed Returns local governments named

Proceeding numbers listed

GEN/1297/2021 and GEN/1354/2021

QON 808

Asked 9 Aug 2022 - Answered 19 Sept 2022

In one targeted regional testing operation, cannabis detections outnumbered methamphetamine and alcohol.

The answer gives preliminary detection numbers from Geraldton, Kalbarri and Carnarvon testing, and says WA road law does not distinguish prescription medicinal cannabis containing THC from illicit cannabis.

Cannabis

Alcohol

Methamphetamine

Cannabis and methamphetamine

QON 779

Asked 8 Aug 2022 - Answered 19 Sept 2022

Local government risk profiling was completed in November 2021.

The answer says RiskWest completed work on a local government risk profiling tool in November 2021, and that DLGSC adopted a Local Government Risk Assessment Policy on 22 December 2021.

Risk profiling tool completed

Nov 2021

Risk policy adopted

22 Dec 2021

Local government reform submissions

200+

QON 584

Asked 14 Mar 2022 - Answered 10 May 2022

WAEC conducted 98 ordinary local government elections in 2021.

The answer says WAEC received gross income of $7,795,167.34 from the 2021 local government elections, on a 100 per cent cost-recovery basis, and received 400 queries and complaints.

Ordinary local government elections

Gross income

$7,795,167.34

Queries and complaints

400

QON 210

Asked 3 Aug 2021 - Answered 1 Sept 2021

In 2020, cannabis-related arrests led to 1,510 convictions recorded against charges.

The answer counts Misuse of Drugs Act charges lodged by prosecution notice after arrest, and then counts the convictions recorded so far against those charges.

Charges lodged

1,842

Distinct individuals

1,564

Convictions recorded against charges

1,510

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