Welfare recipients’ drug test results won’t be passed onto police
WELFARE recipients who fail drug tests connected to their benefits can escape prosecution, even if a drugged-out dole bludger gets in a car to drive away after a positive test.
Federal Budget
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RESULTS of drug tests on welfare recipients will not be passed on to police, even if a drugged-out dole bludger gets in a car to drive away after a positive test.
As the Turnbull Government yesterday dug in to support trialling drug testing of 5000 welfare recipients, it can be revealed legislation will be introduced to ensure results are only used by the Social Services Department.
Welfare recipients will have to travel to an independent contractor to be tested.
The Government reportedly wants to help people get off drugs and into jobs and not have police involved. Sites that registered high drug use during national wastewater testing will be targeted for the random trial. The sites, to be unveiled this year, are likely to include Townsville.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Sky News yesterday the policy aimed to help welfare recipients.
“If they test positive, if they do have that dependency, then they get the cashless debit card, they get management – cash management, income management is very important – and also will get the support, access to rehab to get them off the substance abuse,’’ he said.
“Because frankly, unless they do that, they can’t get a job and the best form of welfare, after all, is a job.
“The object of welfare is, as far as possible, to provide a safety net to enable people to get back into the workforce.
“That’s what Australians want to do and so addressing substance abuse is helping them.”
Labor health spokeswoman Catherine King said the policy had shortcomings.
“We know for a start that compulsory rehab has a pretty high failure rate,’’ Ms King said.
“We also know that there is an incredible shortage of both rehabilitation and treatment beds. So … where is the money for new rehabilitation and treatment beds across the country?”
Originally published as Welfare recipients’ drug test results won’t be passed onto police
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