Tell the Senate: former AFP chief says drug tests won't work
Australia's former top cop Mick Palmer has publicly opposed the Turnbull Government's drug testing scheme.
We need to make sure the Senate crossbench is paying attention.
We need to make sure the Senate crossbench is paying attention.
The man formerly charged with prosecuting John Howard's 'War on Drugs' knows – from first hand experience – that punitive approaches simply don't work.
For the Senators not already swayed by the overwhelming consensus from health professionals and drug policy experts, this might be just the thing to get them over the line.
The final vote could be just hours away. That's why we need to get this latest piece of news onto every crossbencher's desk. Take two minutes right now to email your crossbench Senator. Tell them to listen to the advice of Australia's former chief police officer.
For the Senators not already swayed by the overwhelming consensus from health professionals and drug policy experts, this might be just the thing to get them over the line.
The final vote could be just hours away. That's why we need to get this latest piece of news onto every crossbencher's desk. Take two minutes right now to email your crossbench Senator. Tell them to listen to the advice of Australia's former chief police officer.
Mick Palmer was the man in charge of John Howard's 'War on Drugs'. He learned a lot form the failure of that approach. Here's a few key points from his interview on ABC Radio National.
Addiction is a health problem, not a moral problem, and requires evidence based policies.
We need more funding for rehab and community services – not more police intervention.
Cutting people off from income when they are suffering with alcohol and drug problems can lead them to commit crimes as they seek fund elsewhere.
Listen to the full interview here
Listen to the full interview here
- Former AFP Commissioner Mick Palmer has publicly condemned the Turnbull Government's drug testing policy, saying it won't fix any problems, and is likely to exacerbate criminal activity and harm to people and the communities.
- Every major doctors' group in the country has spoken out against the scheme, saying it goes against scientific evidence and clinical best practice
- Health experts have also said that the scheme is likely to push people to desperate measures, leading to an increase in petty crime, drug dealing and unsafe sex work
- Our frontline alcohol and drug services are overburdened, with many people who want treatment being unable to access it. If the government really wants to help people, why not redirect the massive funding allocated for this scheme into proven treatment options?
- Similar trials in New Zealand and the US have not only failed to bring about positive results, but were incredibly expensive. Why would Australian politicans want to repeat these mistakes?
There are three proposed changes to the Social Security Act that will impact people trying to rebuild their lives in the face of alcohol and drug problems. All three measures are based on the false premise that people can be coerced or punished into recovery.
- Establishment of a two-year mandatory drug testing trial: Anyone enrolling for Newstart Allowance and jobseekers enrolling for Youth Allowance will be forced to agree to undergo drug testing as a condition of payment. 5,000 people in three selected regions of Australia will then be summoned to Centrelink offices and forced to take a drug test. Anyone who did not agree to be tested would have their income support payments cancelled immediately.
- Removal of exemptions for drug or alcohol dependence: Currently, the government provides income support payments to people unable to apply for jobs or do training or study due to their status as someone suffering from severe alcohol or drug dependency. Under changes to the Welfare Reform Bill, the government would cut income support for people with alcohol or other drug dependencies unless they are able to meet prohibitive compliance requirements. The government would also cut support to people incapacitated by sickness or an accident caused by alcohol or other drug issues.
- Changes to reasonable excuses: People who fail to comply with government requirements due to their status as someone suffering from alcohol or drug dependency would be offered treatment. If they refuse treatment, and did not comply with government requirements a second time, the government would suspend their income support.
- A wealth of scientific evidence and clinical experience has proved that people suffering from severe alcohol and drug problems cannot be punished into recovery. Pushing people into poverty will only undermine their chance of recovery.
- Mandatory drug testing has already been trialled and abandoned in multiple countries around the world – including New Zealand, the UK and some states in the USA. These trials have found that the process is costly, counterproductive and inflicts harm on people who are already suffering.
- The government failed to consult with addiction medicine specialists over the policies. They have not been given the chance to share their concerns and expertise.
- Alcohol and drug issues are a serious healthcare problem – not an indication of some sort of personal failing. The policies put forward in the 2017 Budget fail to recognise this fact.
- If this government genuinely wants to help people struggling with drug and alcohol problems, Parliament should redirect public funding away from harmful, expensive drug testing trials and expand referral pathways to treatment services.