In an attempt to crack down on people who receive welfare payments to fund their addiction to drugs and alcohol, the federal government has announced a new program.
The program will see around 5 thousand residents across Australia and potentially the Hunter who receive government payments undergo testing for drugs and alcohol addiction.
And for the unlucky few who are found to have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, they can wave their Newstart and Youth Allowance payments goodbye.
The trial is expected to come in from January next year and will run for two years.
And while the government hasn't announced the locations of where the trial will take place, it's likely one of three locations will be in the Hunter.
The locations will be determined by a close analysis of sewage , identifying area's prone to high substance abuse.
However Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon remains sceptical of the plan, as very little information has been released.
"If this is a genuine attempt to help people with an addiction that would be a good thing, but if it's only a way of attracting votes by looking tough on drugs then I reject it."
"Well there's no doubt we have a drug problem in the Hunter and anything that genuinely seeks to improve the situation and get people out of that cycle we will support."
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| Joel Fitzgibbon |
