STUDENTS MAY FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Students could face random drug tests at school under plans being
considered by the Prime Minister's advisory committee on drug use.

Australian National Council on Drugs chief executive Gino Vumbaca
said it had commissioned research into whether drug detection and
screening was needed in schools.

It was examining evidence for and against the effectiveness of
mandatory drug testing as well as other strategies, such as better
drug education, to fight illicit drug use.

"We are assessing a whole range of things, including drug testing,"
Mr Vumbaca said. "There are implications about testing kids on a
mandatory basis and it may act as a deterrent in some cases, but it
also breaks down bonds of trust in other cases and that can have
longer-term effects."

There was no such thing as foolproof technology and students could be
devastated if they recorded a false positive reading.

"We're dealing with kids in a school environment and if you're going
to introduce something that's mandatory and invasive you want to be
very clear on what you're doing and what the implications are before
you do that," he said.

The council is also seeking comments from legal experts, parent
groups, teachers and principals. It will present its recommendations
early next year.

Drug Free Australia executive officer Jo Baxter said evidence
indicated drug use among students was rife so schools should have the
option to be able to use mandatory random drug tests as a deterrent,
in addition to other drug strategies. She said any testing should be
non-invasive, such as saliva or sweat tests. Sniffer dog searches
could also be a possibility.

Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop said each school should have
the authority to determine whether its students should be subjected
to mandatory or voluntary drug testing.

Education Minister Mark McGowan said he would look at the proposal
but his initial inclination was it was unworkable. "Schools are there
to educate, not to act as police," he said. "Parents need to take
responsibility for their children in these matters."

State schools ran drug education and awareness courses to inform
students on the dangers of illicit drugs.

But shadow education minister Peter Collier said school drug
awareness courses were piecemeal and they should become mandatory,
though he did not back random drug tests.

Australian Secondary Principals Association president Andrew Blair
said he would support drug tests only where there was significant
suspicion of misuse. "I'm not of the view that we should be randomly
drug testing students because it sends the wrong messages," he said.
"The way to get that message across is through education rather than
fear of being caught."

State School Teachers Union president Mike Keely said the prospect of
mandatory random drug tests in schools would horrify most teachers.

WA Council of State School Organisations president Rob Fry said any
drug testing would have to be done with parental permission.