Soldiers risk sack over drug findings

FIVE Townsville soldiers have tested positive to drugs and are at risk of losing their jobs.

The Department of Defence confirmed five soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment returned positive test results for prohibited substances in August.

It is understood the soldiers tested positive for MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.

The department said four of the soldiers were withdrawn from training.

“As per Defence policy, the soldiers are required to showcause as to why their Australian Defence Force (ADF) service should not be terminated,” a statement said.

“Defence takes all incidents of this nature very seriously and has a zero-tolerance policy to the use of prohibited substances.”

The matter was not referred to civilian police.

Last year, an investigation by the Townsville Bulletin revealed at least 20 Townsvillebased Australian Defence Force personnel returned positive drug tests over 14 months.

A Freedom of Information request revealed 16 army members were caught with prohibited drugs in their system from July 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, which resulted in 11 being discharged.

Results from the Australian Defence Force’s Prohibited Substance Testing Program, obtained by the Bulletin through another FOI request in 2017, showed 33 Townsville army personnel recorded positive test readings for illicit drugs in 2012-13, 16 in 2013-14, 15 in 2014-15, 22 in 2015-16 and 10 in 2016-17.

Six members from the 5th Aviation Regiment also risked being kicked out of the ADF for drug use in 2018.

The Bulletin revealed members of 5RAR were subjected to targeted drug tests in early to mid-june as a result of information uncovered by Townsville police in May.

Six army personnel administrative action. faced