poledriver
Bluelighter
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- Jul 21, 2005
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Welfare recipients to be drug tested in dole crackdown
The Federal Government has used the budget to announce a major crackdown on drug-addicts and alcoholics languishing on the dole.
When the random drug tests are enforced, the coalition forecasts expected savings to taxpayers of $632 million over the next four years.
It’s about to be much harder to skip job interviews for those who are long term welfare recipients, and older job seekers will be forced to look harder for work.
Alcohol problems and drug dependency will be axed as a stand-alone reason for getting the Disability Support Pension from July 1.
Random drug tests will be administered on 5000 unemployed job seekers in 2018 and 2019, with private drug testing companies to conduct tests at three trial sites nationally.
Saliva, urine and hair follicles will be tested, scanning for traces of ice, cannabis and ecstasy.
Wastewater testing will illustrate where drug use is prevalent, and the three trial sites will be chosen based off these results.
Job seekers who fail a drug test will see their welfare cheques ‘quarantined’, and will be placed on a cashless system so they can only spend the taxpayer’s money on living essentials such as housing, food and utilities.
If you fail a test, then you’ll be subject to continuing random drug tests and forced to see a government-appointed doctor upon failing a second time. The doctors can recommend drug rehab, medication, or Alcoholics Anonymous as a condition of staying on the dole.
The Government is also introducing a ‘three strike’ demerit system for bludgers who skip job or job placement interviews.
Job agencies will now have to inform Centrelink of every no-show for interviews, and job seekers will only be allowed to miss three appointments in six months before they lose half a fortnightly payment.
Breaking the rules after missing three appointments will result in being stripped of a full payment worth $535.60 and after three strikes will be forced to wait a month to reapply for the dole.
https://tenplay.com.au/news/national/may-2017/welfare-recipients-to-be-drug-tested-in-dole-crackdown
The Federal Government has used the budget to announce a major crackdown on drug-addicts and alcoholics languishing on the dole.
When the random drug tests are enforced, the coalition forecasts expected savings to taxpayers of $632 million over the next four years.
It’s about to be much harder to skip job interviews for those who are long term welfare recipients, and older job seekers will be forced to look harder for work.
Alcohol problems and drug dependency will be axed as a stand-alone reason for getting the Disability Support Pension from July 1.
Random drug tests will be administered on 5000 unemployed job seekers in 2018 and 2019, with private drug testing companies to conduct tests at three trial sites nationally.
Saliva, urine and hair follicles will be tested, scanning for traces of ice, cannabis and ecstasy.
Wastewater testing will illustrate where drug use is prevalent, and the three trial sites will be chosen based off these results.
Job seekers who fail a drug test will see their welfare cheques ‘quarantined’, and will be placed on a cashless system so they can only spend the taxpayer’s money on living essentials such as housing, food and utilities.
If you fail a test, then you’ll be subject to continuing random drug tests and forced to see a government-appointed doctor upon failing a second time. The doctors can recommend drug rehab, medication, or Alcoholics Anonymous as a condition of staying on the dole.
The Government is also introducing a ‘three strike’ demerit system for bludgers who skip job or job placement interviews.
Job agencies will now have to inform Centrelink of every no-show for interviews, and job seekers will only be allowed to miss three appointments in six months before they lose half a fortnightly payment.
Breaking the rules after missing three appointments will result in being stripped of a full payment worth $535.60 and after three strikes will be forced to wait a month to reapply for the dole.
https://tenplay.com.au/news/national/may-2017/welfare-recipients-to-be-drug-tested-in-dole-crackdown