Use drugs and we’ll cut your welfare payments.
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That’s the tough message from the federal government announced in last night’s budget.
Some 5000 welfare recipients across three locations will be subject to random drug tests. Recipients that test positive for a list of substances will lose their cash benefits, and instead have their regular payments made via a cashless card that can only be used for essential living expenses.
We spoke to two local politicians in our electorate to get their views. National party member for Murray, Adrian Piccoli, who supports the measure, and Albury Greens party member Amanda Cohn, who has concerns.
FOR – Adrian Piccoli, National party state member for Murray
Adrian Piccoli has expressed broad support for the controversial measure.
“You can’t afford to be on welfare and use drugs. Taxpayers have the right to be concerned about how people who are using their money, ” he said.
Mr Piccoli said there is a degree of responsibility that comes with receiving welfare payments, and there’s three things that taxpayers expect – that people will look for work, look after their children and not use illegal drugs.
He said his only concern with such measures is “you need to be careful you don’t end up hurting children”, and acknowledged the issue of lack of services for drug users in regional areas.
But he says the main issue is personal responsibility.
“If you’re using drugs and you have children, you need to take a good look at yourself”.
He said that overall the budget was a good one for regional Australia.
AGAINST – Amanda Cohn, Greens, Albury
Dr Amanda Cohn says that the measure will not only hurt the targets of the reform, but also the wider community.
“I’m really concerned that this change is being made without any changes to the support for people with drug problems,” she said.
Dr Cohn also noted the shortage of drug and alcohol support services in the Riverina, and says that stripping welfare entitlements from drug users could force them into committing crime to support their habit – which harms the rest of the community.
On other budget measure, she acknowledged that there were a few wins, particularly in regards to funding for inland rail and restoration of indexation for financial assistance grants.
But overall, it “was a harsh budget for young people”, she said, with nothing to address housing affordability and not a single action on climate change.