No plans to drug test beneficiaries – Key

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No beneficiary drug test plans – Key

3News NZ

John Key says Mr English was right to ask questions about young beneficiaries not taking jobs because they're on drugs (AAP)

John Key says Mr English was right to ask questions about young beneficiaries not taking jobs because they're on drugs (AAP)

The Prime Minister says there are no plans to drug test those applying for a benefit, although he hasn't ruled it out.

Finance Minister Bill English raised the idea yesterday at a Federated Farmers conference.

John Key says Mr English was right to ask questions about young beneficiaries not taking jobs because they're on drugs.

“We have to wait and see,” says Mr Key.

“What I will say is that he's got a very fair point. What I would say is for a lot of young people, when they go off to have an interview with Work and Income and are told about certain employment opportunities, particularly in areas like forestry, they will tell a Work and Income broker that they won't pass a drug test.”

The Government has already announced it will drug test those who are on the jobseeker benefit.

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Comments

7/01/2013 2:02:55 p.m.

m riley wrote:

why is it .. that you will get done for pot. e etc. the tests will find this.. yet people on a class A drugs will get away with it.. as those tests do not detect class A drugs.

3/07/2012 1:02:40 p.m.

Moera wrote:

If a person is taking drugs prescribed by a GP, then there is something seriously wrong with the health of that individual. What's the difference between ACC clients and Sickness beneficiaries??? If an individual is taking recreational drugs...then that's a CHOICE. If individuals can CHOOSE to take recreational drugs then they can CHOOSE the necessary avenue to do what they can to find employment. I can understand the job situation is 'tight' but I think the taxpayer will appreciate an individual who tries rather than one who doesn't

2/07/2012 1:53:15 p.m.

james wrote:

What about those who have to take painkillers for workplace injuries and on the sickness benefit, how is that going to work Mr Key will they have the small amount they get cut. No one is linving a life style choice on 204.00 a week , Do your job and create more postions and up skill peoplr for the jobs on trade me via education.

2/07/2012 12:49:53 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@ Aidan....I said 'SOME' not 'ALL' beneficiaries. I was referring to those beneficiaries who ABUSE the system and unfortuately there are a lot of them. It's the 'genuine' people who get stung and not the 'abusers' when the govt enforce new policies within WINZ...with the govt lead toward drug testing, it will definitely show which ones need to 'clean themselves up' and 'shape up or ship out'. As I said before in my previous comment 'these people' need to change their mindset and learn new ethics. That it's not about a handout only a temporary transition. I understand your position because I'm a DPBer myself and been outta work for seven months and it's been a 'hard' seven months...BUT I'm sick and tired of doing everything I possibly can to find work, make myself employable and then to watch someone turn down a job and say they can't do it because they won't pass a drug test. Comments like that are bulls**t. Something needs to be done to stop this 'attitude' and I think drug testing is the only effective way. It's a employment requirement to be able to pass a drug test and it pertains to most if not all jobs.

1/07/2012 5:24:04 p.m.

james wrote:

The use of any drug has never realy been indentified as being good or bad in our society. legal and illegal buts thats business. In some cultures you are regarded as mature/ adult if you can handle the effects of cannabis. In some cultures you are only regarded as a man only after you have experienced a psychedelic experience. Before we drug test shouldn't we have to prove that the drug is not helping the situation. I think we all should have to experience Psilocybin to be considered adult and capable of voting in sophisticated society. Having an adult population telling thier informed children lies (thier idealistic views) based on opinion rather then facts is when you get chilren not listening and bullying old ladies. Did we not all learn of the boy who cried wolf? society is what we have made it! Disgusting!

1/07/2012 5:16:47 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

What is this National Party Deputy and the Prime Misnister got to offer the drug positive beneficaries, stop their benefit so the parents and family can suffer or spend more of the taxpayers money to put it right..





30/06/2012 4:18:14 p.m.

aiden wrote:

Moera, being on a benefit is not a career. I get $220 a week for my sickness benefit. I should be earning about $150 an hour but cannot work because of my health.

30/06/2012 3:51:16 p.m.

David 2 wrote:

Has anybody bothered to read up on the cost-feasibility analysis of this seemingly populist proposal? This costs money. A lot of money. And given that only a small percentage of people may return positive as a result of the test, this is simply going to be another burden on already strained government expenditure.

30/06/2012 2:53:23 p.m.

Tin Man wrote:

@ John : Losing a good woman who can budget a household on $280 a week, no wonder you are bitter and have sunk yourself in a drug haze of cannabis. Seriously this new initiative will cost 100s of 1000s and many people will not comply on principle. How will they enforce it enmasse??

30/06/2012 12:50:32 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@ERM...I agree with you. The govt have to do something about changing the mind set of beneficiaries - drug testing would be a very good start. Some beneficiaries see it as a career, other than a temporary transition, and some feel it's their right to recieve a handout. I know of some beneficiaries who spend their entire benefit on drugs, alcohol, tobacco go back into WINZ and not feel guilty about asking for another handout. Even thou National has put some new policies in place regarding beneficiaries there still needs to be a real good 'shake up' of those who abuse the system