Thousands of Australians will soon be forced to undertake random drug tests to hold onto their welfare payments.
Beginning next year, 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients across three locations will be included in the two-year trial of drug testing.
Job seekers will be selected at random and tested for drugs including ecstasy, ice and marijuana.
Anyone who tests positive to a test will be placed on welfare quarantining, while those who fail more than once will be referred to medical professions for assessment and treatment.
Mia Freedman sits down with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Post continues below.
The cost of this measure – which is certain to raise the ire of welfare advocates – is deemed commercial-in-confidence and has not been published.
The Turnbull government says the trial is part of a suite of reforms to stop welfare payments being used to fuel drug and alcohol addictions.
Cashless welfare cards will also be expanded across two new locations, with the income management program extended for another two years to June 2019, after two test runs showed positive results for problem gambling and alcohol consumption.
Welfare will be denied to people with disabilities caused solely by their own substance abuse.
Stereotyping welfare recipients as druggies is disgusting! In truth, they’re probably on anti-depressants under this gov! #Budget2017
— Boudiccah (@SammySnail_) May 9, 2017