Since the early 1990s there have been four phases in the development of drug strategies & action plans in Western Australia (WA). There have been important differences between phases depending on the government which was in power at a particular time & the extent to which a government emphasised a broad approach that encompassed all types of drugs or instead focussed on particular drugs or specific types of issues, such as young people. The following listing of key documents helps to construct a broad overview of the policies that were developed within each phase.

Click here to view a list of the names & dates of the political parties which have held government in WA from December 1890 (when the state obtained responsible government from being British colony) to identify the context when each inquiry was held.

View or download specific publications by clicking on the relevant link below.

Reports produced since 2005 are presently available from the Drug & Alcohol Office website here.

Alcohol & Drug Authority: 1990 - 1997

• Strategic Plan 1990-1993 [856k]
• Drug Strategic Plan 1994-1997 [1.9 MB]

WA Strategy Against Drug Abuse: 1997 - 2001

The WA Strategy Against Drug Abuse was officially described as Together Against Drug & was implemented by the Liberal-National Party government (Premier Richard Court) which was in power from February 1993 to February 2001.

• Action Plan 1997-1999 (June 1997) [108k]
• Action Plan 1997-1999: Update (June 1998) [12k]
• Action Plan 1999-2001 (June 1999) [320k]
• Action Plan 1999-2001: Framework [12k]
• Action Plan 1999-2001: Key developments (Nov 1999) [12k]
• Action Plan 1999-2001: What's in place (Nov 1999) [12k]
• Action Plan 1999-2001: Activity & outcome measures 1999/2000 (May 2001) [40k]

WA Drug & Alcohol Strategy: 2002 - 2005

The WA Drug & Alcohol Strategy was officially described as Putting People First & was implemented by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) government which was in power from February 2001 to September 2008. The Putting People First slogan was articulated under the Premiership of Dr Geoff Gallop.

• Strategy 2002-2005 (August 2002) [156k]
• Strategy 2002-2005: Update (November 2004) [740k]

WA Drug & Alcohol Strategy: 2006 - 2008

This version of the WA Drug & Alcohol Strategy was developed by the ALP government under the premiership of Alan Carpenter, who suceeded Geoff Gallop as Premier in January 2006. In this phase the previous 'Putting People First' slogan adopted by the ALP when it first came to government in February 2001 was discontinued.

• Volatile Substance Use Plan 2005-2009 (May 2005)
• Drug & Alcohol Strategy 2005-2009 (November 2005)
• Aboriginal Plan 2005-2009: Strong Spirit Strong Mind (November 2005)
• Alcohol Plan 2006-2009 (June 2006)

Action Plans: 2003-2005

A total of 10 agency action plans were released in May 2003 & were produced by Drug & Alcohol Office, Department for Community Development, Department of Education & Training, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Department of Local Government & Regional Development, Department of Health, Department of Housing & Works, Department of Justice, School Drug Education Project & WA Police Service.