SOLDIERS TO FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Australian Defence Force personnel will face random drug tests after
it was found almost half the troops at a Darwin army barracks used
drugs.

A Senate committee has been told 47 out of 97 soldiers urine tested at
Darwin's Robertson army barracks had used illicit drugs.

Military and civilian police last month raided the barracks after
reports of widespread drug use at the barracks.

Assistant Defence Minister Mal Brough said the ADF would begin
conducting random drug tests, with about 10 per cent of personnel to
be screened in the first year of testing.

Mr Brough said the government had a responsibility to ensure ADF
personnel were not serving with colleagues under the influence of
illicit drugs.

"To ensure that they have the security and the confidence of knowing
that the people they're serving with are drug free, and able to make
good decisions without having their judgment impeded by illicit
drugs," Mr Brough told ABC radio.

"One person taking drugs is a serious drug issue within
defence."

Labor Defence spokesman Chris Evans said it was obvious there was a
serious drug problem in the ADF.

"I think when you get 97 soldiers tested and 47 of them return
positive results, then you've got a major problem," Senator Evans told
ABC radio.