Needle disposal—Karratha
Statement
Hon Rod Caddies (5:35 pm): I stand to talk about a problem up in Karratha. I have been contacted by the community up there about the problem of discarded needles. Needles are being discarded around public areas such as schools, parks and places where children frequent. The community is saying it is a real problem. It is telling me that the problem needs to be solved, because someone could be seriously injured, or a child could get a needle prick, ending up with a disease they probably would not like. I am flying up there tomorrow to visit Karratha and the community has asked me to urge the government to help it provide the resources it needs to address this. I have seen that the government has been helping with the needle problem in other towns. I said to the community that I am sure the government will not be opposed to helping them. I have here a list of urgent requests that they sent to the minister, so I thought I would read them out and hopefully this government takes it on.
The community in Karratha would like the government to: install sharp disposal bins in all local parks, particularly in known problem areas; deploy regular patrols and dedicated clean-up teams to sweep high-risk public spaces; establish and publicise a 24/7 needle disposal hotline or rapid response team for reported sightings; facilitate clear coordination between the WA Country Health Service, Peer Based Harm Reduction WA and the City of Karratha council to address this hazard immediately and transparently; and consider implementing a return-to-receive exchange system where individuals must return used needles before being issued new ones to increase accountability and reduce public littering. These are the things they have asked for. I am not saying that is what needs doing; this is what they have asked for, and that is why I am going there to investigate.
At last night's Pilbara function at Parliament House, I happened to mention I was going up to Karratha and a gentleman asked me, "What are you going up there for?" I mentioned how there was a problem with needles, and he said that he is definitely aware of it because he has seen them in places when he has ridden around. That was someone here last night who was not even part of this concerned community group; he was a businessman here for a different function. He said that he and his wife have noticed needles when on bike rides and walks with their children. I hope the government supports the community and, like I said, tomorrow I will go up to speak to the community, get more information and hopefully come back and report on it.
