Controversial drug testing trial shelved after lack of support

The Federal Government has pulled the pin on its controversial plan to drug test welfare recipients in Canterbury-Bankstown but hasn’t given up hope of introducing the trial. Canterbury-Bankstown welfare recipients will no longer face random drug testing after the Federal Government was forced to abandon the controversial plans.

The federal Government has shelved controversial plans to drug test welfare recipients citing a lack of support in the Senate.

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The Federal Government has pulled the pin on its controversial plan to drug test welfare recipients in Canterbury-Bankstown but hasn’t given up hope of introducing the trial.

The Government announced in August that it planned to roll out a two-year trial, drug testing 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients across three trial sites, starting with Canterbury-Bankstown.

But last Friday Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the testing did not have enough Senate crossbench support and that component was withdrawn from the Welfare Reform Bill.

Minister for Social Services Christian Porter. Picture: Joel Carrett

Mr Porter told Sky News he remained committed to drug testing and the rest of the reform bill would likely pass the Senate but not until February.

“I will probably have a chat with any new Senate personnel that comes on over Christmas ... because I am very, very close in terms of the support that we need for this Government’s drug testing trial,” Mr Porter said.

Local Federal Labor politicians, including Watson MP Tony Burke and Barton MP Linda Burney, were vehemently opposed to the drug testing trial.

Waston federal Labor MP Tony Burke said the drug trial would not work.

“Nobody doubts that we face significant problems with drug addiction in the community, but there is no evidence that this trial will work,” Mr Burke said. “Labor formed its position after extensive consultation with experts — doctors, health professionals, addiction medicine specialists, community organisations and a former Australian Federal Police Commissioner all say it won’t work.”

Ms Burney labelled it “an attack on southwest Sydney” and said overseas trials showed the approach was counter-productive.

Opposition human services Minister Linda Burney criticised the drug trial when it was first announced in August. Picture: Lukas Coch

In August, Mr Porter visited Bankstown to announce the plan and said: “This isn’t designed to stigmatise or punish or penalise anyone. That’s why welfare isn’t cut off if someone tests positive to drugs, it is managed.”

Under the ditched plan, people who tested positive to drug tests would have received 80 per cent of their welfare payments through income management.