Logan dole recipients face expanded drug testing program

A revived and expanded drug testing regime will lock down the welfare payments of those who test positive in southeast Queensland’s dole hotspot.

A QUEENSLAND dole hotspot is facing a revived and expanded drug testing regime that will lock down addicts’ welfare payments if they test positive.

The federal Coalition next week will for the third time attempt to pass drug testing for welfare recipients in Logan, plus widen the hit list of drugs to include heroin and cocaine.

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It initially planned to test only for ice, ecstasy and marijuana.

New welfare recipients in Logan, which is one of three sites across the country to trial drug testing, will be among 5000 job-hunters to face random mouth swabs at Centrelink offices.

Those who test positive will be placed on income management, meaning they will get the same amount of welfare but most of it will be quarantined to pay for food and essential services.

They will have less discretionary spending, which the Government believes will make it harder to pay for drugs.

Those who test positive will also be targeted through a $10 million treatment fund.

Labor and the Greens have previously decried the plan and voted down the legislation. However in this parliament, the Government has a better change of passing the laws, and needs only to secures the vote of one of the two Centre Alliances Senators or Jacqui Lambie. The Government is likely to have the support of One Nation and Cory Bernardi.

The trial, first introduced by then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017-18, is strongly supported by his successor Scott Morrison, who previously held the Social Services portfolio.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has picked up where predecessor Malcolm Turnbull left off. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

At the time, the Government said it in part chose Logan because the number of welfare recipients seeking exemption from attending job interviews because they were too drug-dependent had increased by 162 per cent in just two years, the proportion of drug and alcohol abuse in Logan was higher than the national average; and the five-year trend of incidents linked to drug offences was up 77 per cent.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston told The Courier-Mail the trial was not about punishing people, but identifying those who needed help.

“People on welfare who take drugs are denying themselves the best opportunity to take advantage of the jobs we are creating,’’ Senator Ruston said.

“This trial will assess the use of drug testing as a means of identifying job seekers with substance abuse issues that may be preventing them from finding a job, and support them to address these barriers.

“Taxpayers expect the Government to ensure their money is being spent responsibly and that welfare recipients are using it to put food on the table, send the kids to schools and pay the bills rather than on drugs.”

After five weeks off, Federal Parliament resumes on Monday.

Labor faces being wedged on an issue that, according to a Newspoll in 2017, has 73 per cent of voter support.

It comes as the Australian Council of Social Service will today ramp up its call for an increase to Newstart.

HOW IT WILL WORK

* New welfare recipients in trial sites will be randomly drug-tested at Centrelink officers by private providers. It will mostly be done by testing salvia.

* Welfare recipients who test positive will be placed on income management for two years or the duration of the trial. Eighty per cent of welfare is quarantined, so cannot be withdrawn as cash or used to buy alcohol, cigarettes or for gambling. The remainder is discretionary.

* A second drug test will be done within 25 working days of the positive result.

* After a second positive test, the jobseeker will be referred to a medical professional who will assess their circumstances and identify treatment options.

* Based on the recommendations of the medical professional, the jobseeker may be required to participate in activities designed to address their substance abuse as part of their job plan. This will count towards their mutual obligation activity requirements.