Drug and alcohol testing for NT cops at least two years away, as minister opts for hands-off approach

An on-the-job drug and alcohol testing policy for NT police officers could be at least two years away, with the union asserting it should be part of enterprise bargaining negotiations, and the minister in charge is happy to work with whatever the officers and union decide.

Random punters can be randomly breath tested, but there is no policy that allows NT police officers to undergo the same testing while on-the-job.

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An on-the-job drug and alcohol testing policy for NT police officers could be at least two years away.

The union asserts it should be part of enterprise bargaining negotiations, while the minister in charge is happy to work with whatever the officers and union decide.

The NT Police’s lack of a random drug and alcohol testing regimen for officers is in the spotlight again after two police officers were charged with drug supply and possession, among other offences.

Currently, NT police officers, according to Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage, can only be made to undergo a breath test or drug test if they have committed a statutory offence, like driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Other jurisdictions, including Tasmania and NSW, have had random alcohol and drug testing policies in place for officers for years, if not decades.

Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) president Paul McCue. Picture: Che Chorley

The NT Police Association is supportive of a framework of drug and alcohol testing for officers but is firm on the need for any changes to be made during “consent agreement negotiations”, otherwise known as enterprise bargaining negotiations, as the issue is “industrial”.

NT Police will not go into those negotiations again until 2022.

Police Minister Nicole Manison agreed that the introduction of drug testing for officers was one for NT Police and the NTPA to sort out between themselves.

Police Minister Nicole Manison. Picture: Che Chorley

If the two groups decide legislative change is required, the minister said the government would be “happy to work through that with both of them”.

“The NT government will be supportive of whatever path they believe is most appropriate going forward,” Ms Manison said.

Former CLP police minister Peter Chandler said in 2016 that the government was “preparing policy” before introducing legislation, which did not happen.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed that state’s police officers had been subject to random alcohol breath testing since 1997 and random drug testing since 2001.

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In Tasmania, police officers have been subject to random alcohol testing and random drug testing since 2014 and 2017 respectively.

In Queensland, alongside random breath testing, officers can dob in other officers for drug and alcohol testing if they “reasonably suspect” their colleagues are under the influence.