CITY’S DRUG SHAME

EXCLUSIVE: Testing report reveals council workers high on the job

A REPORT into drug testing at the city’s largest employer has revealed at least 29 staff have been detected under the influence of dangerous drugs at work.

Drug testing at Gold Coast City Council has this year been focused on road workers, cleaners, park staff, library staff, lifeguards and animal management crews. Medical experts have described the trend as concerning, while a Bond University criminologist said the findings were not surprising.

The council responded to the Bulletin’s 11 questions with written statements from a city “spokesman”.

The spokesman said the program was “well accepted” among staff.

COUNCIL workers have been caught using ice and suspended from work for a cocktail of illegal drugs after random drug testing at City Hall.

Drug testing began at the Gold Coast City Council in late 2016, but until now the only report which had surfaced was about two staffers being sent home after testing positive for alcohol.

The Bulletin has obtained an internal report on the testing program, which shows in the year to date 4177 random drug tests have been conducted, with a focus on two directorates.

The screening found 29 suspicious cases, which included 12 for amphetamines, three for benzodiazepine, two for methamphetamines and 12 for opiates, which covers legally prescribed drugs such as morphine as well as illegal substances including heroin.

At least two positives were determined for amphetamines and methamphetamines which could include ice or speed.

The report reveals 1210 tests were conducted on staffers in the Transport and Infrastructure department, which covers city cleaners and road workers.

More than 900 workers were tested in Lifestyle and Community, which includes park workers, library staff, lifeguard and animal management teams.

Council sources say the screening program, which costs up to $1 million a year and involves a nationally accredited Australian company, was dividing employees.

A council source told the Gold Coast Bulletin it was common for staff to “bolt” when testers arrived.

“Supervisors have sent directives to staff saying no-one should duck out of testing,” the source said.

But a city spokesman maintained there was a “high level of co-operation and acceptance”. “The program is recognised as an important feature of safety and feedback from staff is that this is well accepted,” the spokesman said.

Asked about the 29 tests leading to suspicion of serious drugs use, a council spokesman said: “The vast majority of non-negatives are consistent with declared medication with no indication of illicit drug use. This indicates staff are co-operating.”

The report obtained by the Bulletin confirms 11 positive tests were recorded for alcohol this year, but the council declined to give the readings.

The council declined to comment on why the focus was on transport and lifestyle sections, only saying “sites are selected at random by the testing vendor”.

The spokesman confirmed the testing included senior managers, contractors, subcontractors, labour hire and trainees.

Bond University criminologist Wayne Petherick said he was “not surprised in the least”.

“Methamphetamines and cannabis are popular recreational drugs, it’s when you get into the category of ice that it becomes problematic,” Mr Petherick said.