2017-09-04
The Australian Greens welcome a letter from nearly a thousand doctors, nurses and health advocates calling on the Turnbull Government to dump plans to drug test income support recipients, with resources instead directed to treatment and wrap around services.
“This letter confirms what we have been hearing from health professionals and advocates already – that the proposed measure is going to do more harm than good and will hurt those struggling with addiction”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“When the measure was announced we looked overseas and saw similar proposals had either been dumped or had rolled out and been extremely costly and ineffective.
“The measure sets a dangerous precedent – anyone should be able to access support services if they are struggling to get by – it is a human right.
“People struggling with addiction will not be helped with a chastising tough-love approach, we have been told this repeatedly. Drug addiction needs to be treated respectfully and holistically as a health issue, with treatment and rehabilitation.
“A few months ago Assistant Minister Scott Ryan said ‘just because something has been trialled elsewhere and not worked, does not mean it should not be tried again’. To the contrary, that is exactly why we should not be using public funds to pursue this.
“It is time the Government listened to health professionals and observed overseas experiences and dumped the measure altogether”.