Independent Senator for Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie has questioned the Liberal Government about their Illicit Drug Testing policy for income support recipients.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSM_rO7EFA4
In a further speech to Parliament after the question Senator Lambie shared with the Senate results of a Parliamentary Library research brief (attached 2) which examined in a range of countries the drug testing history of welfare recipients – and expressed her support for this policy.
“There may be some Australians who were offended by the suggestion contained in my questions to the Attorney General to day to test Dole recipients for illicit drug – and all I would say to those people is this:
If you want to use illicit drugs, then go and get a job.
Receiving Government welfare is a privilege given to you by hard working Australians who care about the disadvantaged.
Dole payments are meant to be a social safety net to protect you from the hard falls in life – not a jumping castle for you and your mates to party on.” said Senator Lambie.
“Like the majority of my fellow cross benchers – I have a record of protecting disadvantaged Tasmanians and other Australians from the unfair Liberal welfare cuts and increases to medi-care payments that they tried to impose on the poor.
Of course there are better ways of raising revenue and cutting back on government spending – which don’t impact on the poor. A financial transactions tax or FTT which targets the super rich and the big end of town is a much better idea that raising the rate of the GST which will hit poor people’s food and living costs.
However just because I stick up for the under dog – that doesn’t mean I accept that welfare money can be spent lining the pockets of dug dealers.” said Senator Lambie.
Attached 1 – Speech
QWN – Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients and Others
Senator Lambie
My question without notice is directed to the Attorney General and Leader of the Government in the Senate – Senator Brandis.
I refer the Senator to a Parliamentary Library brief I commissioner, which states in part: (and I quote)
a) Drug testing for welfare applicants and recipients has been proposed by governments in the UK and Canada.
b) The idea has been discussed in Australia but, so far, the current federal government has ruled it out.
c) There are no obvious constitutional obstacles to introducing drug testing for income support recipients in Australia.
Will the government support testing for Illicit drugs – for income support recipients in Australia?
Will the government support testing for Illicit drugs or Alcohol – for members of Parliament and public servants?
Will the government support testing for Illicit drugs or Alcohol – for members of the Parliamentary media Gallery?
QWN – Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients and Others – Speech
24.11.15
Senator Lambie.
Mr President
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Brandis – to questions without notice asked by Senator Lambie today – relating to government support for testing of Illicit drugs – for income support recipients?
Mr President,
There may be some Australians who were offended by the suggestion contained in my questions to the Attorney General to day to test Dole recipients for illicit drug – and all I would say to those people is this:
If you want to use illicit drugs, then go and get a job.
Receiving Government welfare is a privilege given to you by hard working Australians who care about the disadvantaged.
Dole payments are meant to be a social safety net to protect you from the hard falls in life – not a jumping castle for you and your mates to party on.
Mr President,
Like the majority of my fellow cross benchers – I have a record of protecting disadvantaged Tasmanians and other Australians from the unfair Liberal welfare cuts and increases to medi-care payments that they tried to impose on the poor.
Of course there are better ways of raising revenue and cutting back on government spending – which don’t impact on the poor.
A financial transactions tax or FTT which targets the super rich and the big end of town is a much better idea that raising the rate of the GST which will hit poor people’s food and living costs.
However just because I stick up for the under dog – that doesn’t mean I accept that welfare money can be spent lining the pockets of dug dealers.
So, that why I commissioned a Parliamentary Library study – which with the permission of the Senate I seek to table?
And the key points of the study say:
• Several US states have passed laws that require drug testing of welfare applicants and recipients.
• These laws generally only require testing where there is reasonable suspicion of drug use.
• US courts have found that state laws that require all welfare applicants to pass a drug test or require random testing of existing recipients violate the Constitution’s fourth amendment prohibition of unreasonable searches.
• New Zealand requires income support recipients with work obligations to take and pass a drug test where an employer or training provider asks for one as part of the application process for a suitable job.
• Drug testing for welfare applicants and recipients has been proposed by governments in the UK and Canada. However it has not been implemented.
• The idea has been discussed in Australia but, so far, the current federal government has ruled it out.
• There are no obvious constitutional obstacles to introducing drug testing for income support recipients in Australia.
New Zealand — Pre-employment drug testing
Mr President – the Library study goes on to talk about New Zealand’s experience which I think we should pay attention to : (and I quote)
In the lead up to the 2011 election, the New Zealand National Party announced that:
… if a person doesn’t apply for a job because a potential employer asks them to take a drug test, or if they fail such a pre-employment drug test, their benefit will be cancelled… those who suffer from drug addiction will be offered help and support to deal with their addiction. If there is doubt about whether a person suffers an addiction or is a recreational drug user, a National Government would be guided by expert professional advice.[1]
This has now become policy. According to Work and Income New Zealand: ‘Beneficiaries with work obligations are required to take and pass a drug test where an employer or training provider asks for one as part of the application process for a suitable job.’
In a regulatory impact statement the New Zealand Treasury noted that the policy was ‘potentially inconsistent with the right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure and the right to refuse medical treatment.’ However the statement also noted:
Officials at MSD consider this is justified, as it is reasonable to have an expectation that people receiving a work-tested benefit not engage in illegal behaviours which limit their ability to secure paid employment.
Mr President,
In Australian we already illicit drug and alcohol test in many work places – (Military, Mines, Building Sites if your not in Victoria and Heavy Industry) to increase safety – and protect workers’ and businesses’ health.
It time we expanded those tests to all work places, including this Parliament house to set the example.
Why can’t we illicit dug and alcohol test in our schools?
Surely they produce a product, that is far more important and valuable than any mineral or metal a mine will ever produce?
Rob Messenger for Senator Jacqui Lambie Senator for Tasmania
