BigTrancer
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2000
- Messages
- 7,339
Deja vu!
BigTrancer said:
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Discrimination Against Drug Users
- Thread starter RaveSafeVIC
- Start date
i fired someone from work today because they had speed shakes. i dont care what you do on the weekend but at work your are expected to work...
and yes it was interfering with his work.
thats why. not because his a user....a quarter of our workforce does something after hours.
and yes it was interfering with his work.
thats why. not because his a user....a quarter of our workforce does something after hours.
I agree with the rep from AVIL. My reading of this legidlation is that it would have little impact on non-addicted illicit drug users who are the bulk of club drug users.
I think if your boss sacked you because he thought you used some E, you would have reasonable grounds to protest that provided a clear link between your illicit drug use and your work perfomance could not be made.
I do think we have much bigger fish to fry in the area of club drugs at the moment, and certainly there is some substantial discrimination which occurs and is likely to occur as a result of current media interest in club drugs.
Cheers,
Buck
I think if your boss sacked you because he thought you used some E, you would have reasonable grounds to protest that provided a clear link between your illicit drug use and your work perfomance could not be made.
I do think we have much bigger fish to fry in the area of club drugs at the moment, and certainly there is some substantial discrimination which occurs and is likely to occur as a result of current media interest in club drugs.
Cheers,
Buck
Flexistentialist
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2002
- Messages
- 1,742
*Bump*
Let's hope the PM listens to the expert advice he's received and drops this ridiculous amendment.
MEDIA RELEASE
16 April 2004
Peak body applauds rejection of discrimination against drug users
The Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) today praised the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for recommending against the Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill proceeding through parliament at this time.
"This bill was introduced into parliament by the Attorney General in December 2003 with no consultation with either the alcohol and other drugs sector or affected communities.
The bill aims to make it legal to discriminate against a person who is dependent on an illicit drug and who is not in treatment in a diverse range of areas including employment, accommodation, education and club membership. This would effectively mean that a person could be fired from their job or evicted from their home, regardless of their ability or behaviour," said ADCA CEO, Ms Cheryl Wilson.
"The Disability Discrimination Act, which this bill seeks to amend, does not afford special protection for people who use illicit drugs, nor does it provide protection for unreasonable behaviour or underperformance. It simply ensures that drug dependent people are provided with the same protection against discrimination as everyone else in the community."
If passed, the impact of the bill will be widespread. Potentially nearly one million Australians - those who use illicit drugs, such as cannabis, on at least a weekly basis - could face widespread discrimination. The bill will particularly impact on young people, as those aged 14-29 years are the highest users of illicit drugs.
"At a time when young people are building the foundations for the rest of their lives they could be denied access to work and education, increasing the chance that their drug use will become or remain problematic," said Ms Wilson.
The bill was strongly opposed by 116 of the 118 submissions received by the Senate Committee and the committee heard evidence from a vast array of health and legal experts about the many practical, legal and ethical problems that this bill poses, not just for illicit drug dependent people, but for their families, drug treatment services, business operators, landlords and the wider community.
"In short ADCA concurs with the Labor and Democrat Senators that this bill should not proceed through the parliament in any form," said Ms Wilson. "We can only trust that the government will also respond positively to the evidence before them and not continue to drive this poorly thought out piece of legislation through the parliament."
16 April 2004
Peak body applauds rejection of discrimination against drug users
The Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) today praised the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for recommending against the Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill proceeding through parliament at this time.
"This bill was introduced into parliament by the Attorney General in December 2003 with no consultation with either the alcohol and other drugs sector or affected communities.
The bill aims to make it legal to discriminate against a person who is dependent on an illicit drug and who is not in treatment in a diverse range of areas including employment, accommodation, education and club membership. This would effectively mean that a person could be fired from their job or evicted from their home, regardless of their ability or behaviour," said ADCA CEO, Ms Cheryl Wilson.
"The Disability Discrimination Act, which this bill seeks to amend, does not afford special protection for people who use illicit drugs, nor does it provide protection for unreasonable behaviour or underperformance. It simply ensures that drug dependent people are provided with the same protection against discrimination as everyone else in the community."
If passed, the impact of the bill will be widespread. Potentially nearly one million Australians - those who use illicit drugs, such as cannabis, on at least a weekly basis - could face widespread discrimination. The bill will particularly impact on young people, as those aged 14-29 years are the highest users of illicit drugs.
"At a time when young people are building the foundations for the rest of their lives they could be denied access to work and education, increasing the chance that their drug use will become or remain problematic," said Ms Wilson.
The bill was strongly opposed by 116 of the 118 submissions received by the Senate Committee and the committee heard evidence from a vast array of health and legal experts about the many practical, legal and ethical problems that this bill poses, not just for illicit drug dependent people, but for their families, drug treatment services, business operators, landlords and the wider community.
"In short ADCA concurs with the Labor and Democrat Senators that this bill should not proceed through the parliament in any form," said Ms Wilson. "We can only trust that the government will also respond positively to the evidence before them and not continue to drive this poorly thought out piece of legislation through the parliament."
Let's hope the PM listens to the expert advice he's received and drops this ridiculous amendment.
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Flexistentialist
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2002
- Messages
- 1,742
This press release from AIVL explains more.
MEDIA RELEASE... MEDIA RELEASE... MEDIA RELEASE...
Date: 16th April 2004
Title: "Discrimination for people who use illicit drugs still a potential threat" says National Drug Users Organisation
The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) the national organisation representing people who inject/use illicit drugs is today cautiously reviewing the recommendations and report from the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee into the Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill.
Ms. Annie Madden AIVL's Executive Officer said, "While we can gain a sense of achievement for our hard work in lobbying against the amendments to the bill, there is still work to do". Ms Madden continued, "While we are very pleased that the committee has recommended that, "...if the Bill remains as is, and extends to areas beyond employment, the Bill should not proceed" and that it be referred to the Ministerial Council on Drugs Strategy for further consideration, we are concerned that the committee has left the door open to a amendment with a focus on employment".
AIVL and other organisations have worked hard to raise with the Committee the potential implications that this legislation will have within the employment context. AIVL believes that there is sufficient recourse in place for employers to manage poor performing employees and that this legislation will only further marginalise people who use illicit drugs.
Ms. Madden stated, "Within the employment context, this legislation will be difficult to enact and will potentially give carte blanche to employers to discriminate against people who they suspect may use illicit substances regardless of their work performance. It will also act as a barrier for people who may be experiencing problems with their drug use from coming forward and seeking treatment for fear of losing their jobs".
"This legislation condones discrimination and as a community we must challenge this type of thinking. We do not believe any government should be legislating to make it easier to discriminate against an already highly marginalised group in the community" Ms Madden concluded. AIVL wil continue to monitor developments and ongoing discussions in relation to this amendment and will continue to lobby for it to not proceed."
Date: 16th April 2004
Title: "Discrimination for people who use illicit drugs still a potential threat" says National Drug Users Organisation
The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) the national organisation representing people who inject/use illicit drugs is today cautiously reviewing the recommendations and report from the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee into the Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill.
Ms. Annie Madden AIVL's Executive Officer said, "While we can gain a sense of achievement for our hard work in lobbying against the amendments to the bill, there is still work to do". Ms Madden continued, "While we are very pleased that the committee has recommended that, "...if the Bill remains as is, and extends to areas beyond employment, the Bill should not proceed" and that it be referred to the Ministerial Council on Drugs Strategy for further consideration, we are concerned that the committee has left the door open to a amendment with a focus on employment".
AIVL and other organisations have worked hard to raise with the Committee the potential implications that this legislation will have within the employment context. AIVL believes that there is sufficient recourse in place for employers to manage poor performing employees and that this legislation will only further marginalise people who use illicit drugs.
Ms. Madden stated, "Within the employment context, this legislation will be difficult to enact and will potentially give carte blanche to employers to discriminate against people who they suspect may use illicit substances regardless of their work performance. It will also act as a barrier for people who may be experiencing problems with their drug use from coming forward and seeking treatment for fear of losing their jobs".
"This legislation condones discrimination and as a community we must challenge this type of thinking. We do not believe any government should be legislating to make it easier to discriminate against an already highly marginalised group in the community" Ms Madden concluded. AIVL wil continue to monitor developments and ongoing discussions in relation to this amendment and will continue to lobby for it to not proceed."
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