GOVERNMENT REJECTS DRUG TESTS FOR MPS

The Federal Government said yesterday it would not drug test politicians or
public servants as recommended by the head of the Australian National
Council on Drugs.

Salvation Army Major Brian Watters had made the recommendation, saying he
was appalled by how tolerant law makers had become towards drug abuse.

"There's at least one politician in the NSW Parliament who's stated he's
used marijuana and doesn't see anything wrong with it," Major Watters said.

However, a spokeswoman for Attorney-General Daryl Williams said the
Government had a number of successful anti-drugs programs in place, but
random testing for MPs and bureaucrats was not under consideration.

Major Watters had defended his idea saying a cross-section of the percentage
of drug users were among MPs.

"If we've got 40 per cent of the community occasionally using drugs, there's
no doubt a cross-section of that are among our lawmakers."

He said the community expected public transport drivers and police to be
drug-free.

They expected the same from those responsible for driving Australia's drug
laws.

"They [politicians] should demonstrate they are also drug-free and that
they've got the right sort of faculties about them to deal with these
issues," he said. If MPs tested positive and a blood test proved the result,
they should be removed from duty and sent to a detox program.

The spokeswoman for Mr Williams said the Federal Government had achieved
demonstrated success with its Tough on Drugs policy.

"There have also been record seizures of drugs targeting the source points,"
she said.

If any MPs were suspected of using drugs it would be a matter for the
police, the spokeswoman said. The Government had no plans to bring in random
drug testing for MPs, she said.

"No, that is not under consideration."

Major Watters, who was appointed by Prime Minister John Howard to head the
council on drugs, said the idea was prompted by recent proposals in NSW to
test parents with drug problems to ensure proper protection of children.

"That's not a bad thing, provided it leads to treatment and it's not seen as
some punitive thing," he said.

"There are other people in our community [who] have much broader
responsibilities than to their children, and I think they ought to be
looking at their own problems."

Foundation for Drug Law Reform spokeswoman and NSW upper House MP Ann
Symonds criticised the plan to test MPs, saying it would divert much-needed
funds from families and other causes.

However, DrugWatch Australia backed the proposal, saying there was an urgent
need for an increase in prevention policy and practice throughout Australia.

"Drug testing can form a successful component of this approach," DrugWatch
director Jill Pearman said in a statement.

"Certainly the individuals involved in the front line of determining drug
policy should have no problem agreeing to random drug testing."