DRUG TEST PLAN FOR MPS REJECTED

The federal Government said today 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 lawmakers had become towards drug abuse.

"There's at least one politician in the New South Wales 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 law makers."

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.

Major Watters 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 that have much broader
responsibilities than 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 slammed 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."