Minister for Social Services Christian Porter has delayed the introduction into parliament of a drug testing trial for Mandurah welfare recipients until 2018.
The bill to enact the trial was part of a raft of social services reforms the federal government had hoped to pass in the Senate, but when drug testing for welfare recipient was opposed by Labor and the Greens, Mr Porter decided to delay its introduction.
Mr Porter said he would be reintroducing legislation for the trial in the new year.
“I would say to you earnestly, that I’ll probably have a chat with any new Senate personnel that comes on over Christmas, and there will be a few new faces in the Senate, because I am very, very close in terms of getting the support that we need for this government’s drug testing trial,” he said.
“And, as a Government we’ve been willing to try new things – the Cashless Welfare Card is improving lives in Indigenous communities and now we are rolling it out to communities which – Kalgoorlie for instance, is about half Indigenous and half non-Indigenous – so we’ve been willing to try new things and drug testing is just a part of that.”
Member for Canning Andrew Hastie said the opposition to the trial was disappointing, but he was committed to fighting for the program which would help address drug abuse in Mandurah.
“Labor is obstructing a program that would make a big difference in our community,” Mr Hastie said.
Well the only part of the Bill that we are having difficulties with is the drug testing trial – designed to use the welfare system to compel people into treatment and break down barriers to employment.
- Social Services Minister Christian Porter
“It’s been postponed for now so other fixes to our welfare system can pass the Senate, but we’ve certainly not stopped fighting for it.
“This trial has the potential to make a lasting difference for our community. The program identifies if job-seekers receiving Centrelink are struggling with drug abuse, and if they are, it provides them with support to get clean and job ready.”
Mr Hastie said the reform was “common sense” and people in Mandurah wanted the drug testing trial to happen.
“People are right to be upset,” he said.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
