Welfare drug tests on agenda
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there would be fresh legislation to institute a new trial to drug test welfare recipients.
DRUG and booze addicts are developing shocking medical conditions that entitle them to the disability support pension, prompting a federal attempt to drug test welfare recipients.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there would be fresh legislation to institute a trial, and new crossbench senators would be targeted to ensure its passage.
It comes as government statistics reveal 1383 jobless Australians receive the disability support pension because their condition is drug or alcohol dependence.
About 1500 DSP recipients have psychiatric or psychological issues caused by abusing substances.
And almost 27,000 people on the DSP have alcohol and drug-related medical issues.
The DSP pays almost $900 a fortnight, which is more than Newstart.
The Turnbull Government wanted to trial drug testing for some welfare recipients but was blocked by the Senate.
Asked if he would forge ahead with the trial, Mr Turnbull said: “It absolutely will.”
The trial is popular with most voters, and Logan, south of Brisbane, will become the biggest drug testing hotspot.
Mayor of Logan, Luke Smith, warned of a spike in crime if the testing scheme was adopted as planned.
Under the plan, about 2500 new Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients were to be tested in suburbs throughout Logan over two years, and those who failed their test would lose control of their welfare payment.
Those who continually test positive for drugs will have to pay for their own tests. Those who refuse follow-up tests within 25 days will have their dole suspended.
Those who test positive for ice, ecstasy or marijuana will have to undergo another test within a month, 80 per cent of their welfare will be quarantined, meaning they will have only about $100 a fortnight in discretional spending.
They will also be referred to medical experts to help them beat their addiction.