Random drug testing for those on unemployment benefits

[donnashuggy]

What about random drug tests for people that work?

Why discriminate? 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/young-lnp-want-party-to-consider-adopting-random-drug-...

[poddster]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

And do you think they will starve on the street?

Or do you think they will do whatever they have to in order to get money for food and drugs?

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What you have said is that you are in favour of being blackmailed by junkies. You give them money and they don't rob and break and enter.

Not my idea of justice, its a cop out

[i-need-a-martini]

What I am saying is that the solutions isn't as simple as removing their money. That just creates another set of issues for society.

As I said up there somewhere it would be nice if the world was that simple and perfect. But it isn't as black and white as you would like it to be poddster.

[i-need-a-martini]

Not that I have any answers or even an idea for a solution.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

The problems are already there though. Drug offences account for a significant number of prison sentences, thieving already occurs and abuse of available services is already rife. The more that is given, the more it is abused so more is given to fix the problem. Sometimes you have to take a hard line. I wonder how many people have a problem with random breath testing resulting in loss of licence at great inconvenience to the driver who was over the limit? That driver may then be unable to work and therefore have no income, should they be let off? 

[lakeland27]

 Conservative solutions (ha) astound me. Pick the most miserable and downtrodden and then persecute and vilify them even more.

 and yes, people with chronic alcoholism or substance abuse qualify for disability as said so it cant work. the other problem of course is that the QLD government has absolutely no say in the policy of a federal department and is simply dog whistling to win back some lagging support.

[nero_bolt]

@lakeland27 wrote:

 Conservative solutions (ha) astound me. Pick the most miserable and downtrodden and then persecute and vilify them even more.

 and yes, people with chronic alcoholism or substance abuse qualify for disability as said so it cant work. the other problem of course is that the QLD government has absolutely no say in the policy of a federal department and is simply dog whistling to win back some lagging support.

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[*elizabeths-mum*]

I hear what you are saying, lakeland but I question whether they are actually the most miserable and downtrodden when they come into our service for 3 months free board (after that a portion of their pension is kept back so a miraculous cure usually takes place) physically and verbally assault staff and other clients, arrange drug drops and never test clean. 

edit: and yes I probably am bitter, being hit and have the perpetrator laugh because there is nothing you can do and minimal consequences to them does that. 

[patchoo78]

I actually heard that the drug test was only if you had to have one as part of a job application, and if you refused you lost your benefits..

[donnashuggy]

The big question is, what happens when they test positive?

Put them on a boat to Indonesia without papers?

[poddster]

Antarctica, without clothes is a better destination 🙂