Drug test plan would drive unemployed into poverty

Braddon MP Brett Whiteley has started his re-election bid on a negative note, calling for random drug testing of long-term welfare recipients. 

He announced last month he wants those testing positive to have their payments withheld.

His language carelessly and actively stoked anger at long-term unemployed people, tarring them as drug users: “Long-term dole recipients off their heads on drugs instead of looking for work should have their payments suspended”.

He also justified his idea by comparing it - wrongly - to drug tests carried out by some workplaces, which are done for safety reasons.

The problem with Mr Whiteley’s proposal is that it’s not clear what problems it would solve. 

He might imagine taking dole payments from drug addicts will be the tough love they need. In reality, it will send them spiralling into further poverty, and keep them further from a successful entry into the job market.

Stereotyping unemployed people isn’t going to help them get jobs. The stigma attached to unemployed people by drug tests would segregate them and entrench their disadvantage.

Drug addiction is a health problem, and needs health-based solutions. The blunt instrument of withheld welfare payments isn’t going to rehabilitate people from what are long-running health issues.

Making targets of welfare recipients is easy sport for politicians. This only increases their responsibility to speak carefully about those prone to becoming public scapegoats.   

Drug users need help in battling their addiction. It’s a hard journey back to sobriety.

Let’s hope Mr Whiteley has some better ideas for tackling unemployment.

- Doug Dingwall