DRUG TESTS FAILED

HUNDREDS of Territorians have missed out on a job at the Wickham Point LNG
plant in Darwin because they failed a drug test.

The Sunday Territorian has learned about 4000 people applied for a position
constructing the plant and pipeline, and about half of these were Territorians.

And of those who were interviewed, about 40 per cent were not offered jobs
because of their drug test results.

ConocoPhillips Darwin area vice-president Blair Murphy would not confirm
how many applicants were interviewed.

"We have no comments regarding the drug testing, regarding specific
numbers, however, both Conoco and Bechtel have a policy that you are drug
or alcohol tested before being employed as do a lot of industrial
companies," Mr Murphy said.

But a senior Government source told the Sunday Territorian this week it was
understood about 40 per cent of Territory applicants interviewed failed the
drug and alcohol test.

Mr Murphy said there had been a high level of interest for jobs on the
project from the local community.

About 525 workers are constructing the LNG Plant at Wickham Point --
expected to take three years -- with approximately 325 of these "local".

"We are still building the LNG tank at Wickham Point and have finished most
of the dirt work and are starting to put up the structural steel," Mr
Murphy said.

Another 500 workers would start work on the construction of the pipeline in
Darwin harbour in June or July this year.

"We are doing the pre-work for that and the actual pipe laying in the
harbour will take two to three weeks scheduled for the end of June or early
July," he said.

Mr Murphy said the project was on schedule.

The Wickham Point Gas plant will bring gas on-shore to Darwin from the
Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea.