'It's not drug free here, test the politicians as well', says Lambie
Senator Jacqui Lambie says politicians need to be subjected to the same drug tests introduced for Australian jobseekers under the federal budget, adding Parliament House is not "drug-free".
Speaking on Sunrise, Lambie said “if you think it's drug-free up here, you’re kidding yourself".
The controversial budget measure to drug test 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients prompted Ms Lambie to suggest Canberra power brokers could set the example.
“You have to ask if its all being paid for taxpayers on welfare, how come politicians and public servants aren’t getting the same treatment and leading by example,” Lambie asked Sunrise host David Koch.
Senator Lambie told Derryn Hinch and the Sunrise discussion team that politicians should be subjected to random drug testing as well those on welfare. Source: Sunrise
The government will also introduce a crackdown on anyone receiving multiple payments and recipients who fail to turn up to appointments or to take on work could face losing their payments completely.
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.
The government will come down hard on welfare recipients who choose not to take on suitable work. Source: AAP
“We will no longer accept, as an excuse from repeat offenders, that the reason they could not meet their mutual obligation requirements was because they were drunk or drug-affected,” Treasurer Scott Morrison said.
“JobSeeker recipients who test positive would be placed on the Cashless Debit Card for their welfare payments and be subjected to further tests and possible referral for treatment.”
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.
