Senate debates

Thursday, 6 December 2018

Bills

Social Services Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing Trial) Bill 2018; Second Reading

11:42 am

Photo of Doug CameronDoug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | | Hansard source

I rise to strongly oppose the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing Trial) Bill 2018. This is the second time the government has tried to introduce drug-testing trials, and we will oppose this bill just as strongly as we opposed their last failed attempt. The bill proposes the trial of random drug testing of some 5,000 income support recipients in selected locations around Australia: Logan in Queensland, Mandurah in Western Australia and Canterbury-Bankstown in Sydney.

Senator Siewert interjecting

I pronounced Mandurah wrong? I can always blame my accent!

This is an ideological war on the most vulnerable in our society. This is a government that continues to demonstrate it just doesn't get it. It just sees the most vulnerable in our society as someone they can kick, someone they can attack, someone that they can continually try to reduce the position of in this society. It is absolute nonsense. Addiction is a health issue. It is not something that should be the focus of penal powers by this government. I have to say, if you want to do drug testing, how about doing drug testing amongst some of the bankers in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, not the poor people in this country who are relying on social security. This proposal has been considered by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on two occasions. On each occasion, the overwhelming evidence from the—

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cameron! You will be in continuation when debate resumes. I now interrupt the debate as it is 11.45 am.