Australia to drug test welfare recipients

[Carolinesbeanies]

AIBU to totally agree with this?

www.newscientist.com/article/2145603-australia-plans-random-drug-tests-for-people-receiving-welfare/

(Not dumping and running, but Im working a late today and wont be back till late evening. Didnt want to let this article go under the radar!)

I don't feel the same about pot smokers though. That doesn't bother me. Ice is different and that's what's big in Australia right now.

Nice to read such a kind and generous op!

No personal experience of ice (though its reputation is dreadful) but don't underestimate how low a "hooked through the bag" (as opposed to an occasional weekend smoke) pot user can fall.

Then there is the question of random drug tests on people whom there is no particular reason to suspect, simply because they are recipients of welfare.

How would we feel about having to take random drug tests simply because we receive child benefit (taxpayers' money)? Or tax credits (those who do)? Or DLA (whatever it is called now)? All tax payers' money.

I should say, I do feel sorry for them but I've had one lot in my rental property and since they left it's been vacant for 9 months now. Just too much damage and junk to face.

But also, its not stopping benefits is it? It's 80% of the benefit moved to a debit card.

I do have to take random drug tests, even though I only work in admin, but because of the government department I work for. Just a normal mainstream department, not secret service or anything exciting.

Verity, no, farmers markets don't do eftpos. Our local one is cash only and costs a fraction of the costs of ColesWorth. Not all opshops do, ebay and gumtree don't necessarily.

I fail to see why people who are managing their money well should be forced onto a stupid scheme that will ensure they can't manage their money well in the name of ideology.

20% of benefits will still be cash, won't it? But I do agree that if everything's going well, kids are fed and going to school, then drug tests are very intrusive and inappropriate.

I think there is a bit of a difference between random drug tests because of a job you have chosen to take (presumably knowing this was one of the conditions) and drug tests which are specifically about you being poor.

Probably. But the drug tests were only actually introduced last year. I've been there 6 years. And although drug tests might be useful for dome roles in this department, is it really necessary to drug-test the middle aged admin assistants - one of which has been the receptionist for 25 years!
I wasn't mentioning my drug tests to justify the new ones. My point was more that I'm also being tested because of my salary paid from taxpayers money. Testing is getting more and more widespread here. Annoyingly so.

Isn't taking drugs illegal in Australia? I wouldn't give a friend, relative or stranger regular money to feed a habit. That's called facilitating the habit. I would however support food, shelter and treatment. So tax payers shouldn't facilitate drug habits but they should support residential treatment and if the person turns to crime then I would support compulsory residential treatment.

As to where it ends, well I think benefits should legitimately be withheld if it is being used for criminal activity.

I understand that farmers markets wouldn't take it, it just seemed strange to me that places like a petrol station, vet, butchers etc wouldn't have eftpos facilities.

They would have eftpos.

Verity I've just checked on the list and merchants have to opt into the scheme so it's not as straight forward as saying if they accept EFTPOS (card payments) that they'll accept the Basics Card.

The high school DD2 goes to doesn't accept them, the nearest petrol station that does is an hours drive from where I live, the Drs doesn't accept them (and doesn't accept cash or bulk bill either).

The local village shops have a surcharge for EFTPOS payments and the farm shops/markets are cash only.

You can't even use the basics card to buy lunch in a cafe if it has an alcohol licence (which almost all do around here).

Yes, you can get 20% of your payment into your normal bank account (they do so cash payments) but my fuel costs are almost 20% of my fortnightly income so how would I manage everything else I have to pay each fortnight if I am restricted in where I can spend the other 80% of my income?

And before anyone suggests maybe I used to have a job but my partners health suffered a serious decline so I'm now her full-time carer and unable to work.

This whole basics card / income management scheme is a disgrace.

Meant to say - where we are it's an hours round trip to the supermarket so I'd presume the bigger towns/cities would have more people opting into the basics scheme.

I'm in a city and nope, lots of our shops don't take it. For a person on a disability pension, it could be further isolating from their community. The barber my son likes and where they are wonderful with him, don't take it.

Oh a bit of clarity--the Basics card is currently an opt-in card some people choose to use so they can manage their benefits. The Welfare/Basics card the govt is trying to bring in will be universal

A Welfare/Basics card is being trialled in some remote communities and is a fucking disaster.

Yabu. Totally dehumanising.

I agree with it. DH is subject to random drug tests at work, so why one rule for him, and another for benefit claimants?

My step brother is a weed addict. His benifits just enable his habit.

It's a good idea in my opinion. People on welfare shouldn't be spending other people's tax contributions on illegal drugs. If they want illegal drugs they can get a job and fund it themselves.

*The problem with cutting off benefits is that you cut off benefits to children.

No matter what you think of their parents - children deserve to eat*

^^ then the parents have a responsibility to the KIDS not their own selfush pursuits.

and I fully agree with you MArgarer Twatyer. it IS a choice.

As long as all benefit agency staff all government officials and anyone else paid with tax payers money is also drug tested before receiving their pay checks.

I have a close family member in prison for drug dealing - one of the arresting police officers, one of the barristers, 5 prison officers and his son's head mistress were all regular customers. They are all still in their well paid jobs and he is in prison.

He was followed 24/7 by the police for 3 months they saw him selling to every single one of them. But not one was ever arrested or reported.

There is one law for some people and another for others.

they saw him selling to every single one of them
one could argue that the customers are the more culpable group...were it not for the constant and insatiable demand for intoxicants there would be no money in being a drug dealer

(I'm not saying that argument is necessarily stronger than the one which supports sanctions against suppliers rather than users)

It's a good idea in my opinion. People on welfare shouldn't be spending other people's tax contributions on illegal drugs

On one hand the government is spending money on fighting drugs, while the other hand is funding the crime!

Surely this will just push more addicts onto the streets? How does that help society?

I completely agree with it on condition you also drug test everyone else, and sack yuppies who turn up to work with coke in their system.