Pollies weigh in to drug test trial

TASMANIA N politicians have weighed into the debate about the random drug testing of welfare recipients with Senator Jacqui Lambie renewing a call for politicians to be the first cab off the rank.

The Federal Government has announced that welfare recipients in Sydney’s southwest could be randomly tested for drugs from the start of next year.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the trial would be focused on helping jobseekers overcome drug problems and secure work.

“It is not about penalising or stigmatising people who have a barrier to employment which is as serious as drug abuse,” Mr Porter said.

The Government plans to roll out the two-year trial in three sites from January, with about 5000 people affected.

Senator Lambie said politicians must lead the way.

“These politicians are kidding themselves if they’re saying that drug problems begin and end in western Sydney,” she said.

“If politicians are going to ask members of the public to be drug tested, it’s fair for the public to ask for politicians to submit to the same treatment.”

Labor Senator Lisa Singh said stigmatising recipients rather than offering rehabilitation would push vulnerable people into poverty, homelessness and potentially crime.

“If the government really cared about unemployed people with drug addictions, it would increase funding for treatment programs so more people have a chance to get back on their feet,” Senator Singh said.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz thought the trial was worthwhile. “I think this is a very good policy, not only for the individual but also for the long-suffering Australian taxpayer that I think has a right to say that the welfare system in our country should be a safety net, not a hammock.”

Labor and the Greens are opposed to the trial so the Government will need support from the Senate crossbench.