Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jul 2012
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2012 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Kate Shuttleworth
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

BENEFIT CUTS FOR DRUG USERS DEFENDED BY PM

The Prime Minister has defended the latest round of welfare reforms 
cutting the benefits of people who fail or refuse to take a drug test.

The National-led Government says there are now no consequences for 
drug-takers who opt out of job applications when faced with a drug test.

The details on new rules targeting beneficiaries who take drugs were 
being finalised by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett but 
could take effect in 2013.

National's pre-election policy document said beneficiaries who did 
not apply for a job because a prospective employer asked them to take 
a drug test would have their benefit cancelled.

Under new rules, a beneficiary that takes a drug test and fails it 
will also be sanctioned.

Prime Minister John Key said on TVNZ's Breakfast today that tax 
payers should not be supporting drug-users who refuse jobs that 
involve drug testing.

"If we're paying you a benefit; your responsibility is to be work 
ready, and to be work ready means that you can go along and actually 
pass that drugs test.

Otherwise we're sending completely that wrong message - we're 
actually condoning illegal behaviour."

Mr Key said this morning people would turn down jobs because they 
knew they would not pass a drug test.

"The young person will often say there's no point in sending me 
along. I know they drug test at those organisations; I will fail the 
test because I smoked marijuana on Saturday night. We're all meant to 
sit back and say 'well that's fine, we'll just carry on paying your 
benefit and everything is fine.'

"Well I don't think that's acceptable to hard working Kiwis who are 
paying for that benefit," he said.

"Choosing to take drugs and expecting not to be work tested solely 
for that reason alone is unacceptable."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom