Thousands of drug addicts and alcoholics are receiving the disability support pension (DSP) for conditions caused by their own substance abuse.
Almost 1,400 Australians get the DSP solely because of drug or alcohol dependence, while about 1,500 DSP recipients have a primary psychiatric or psychological condition caused by substance abuse.
And almost 27,000 jobless Australians on the DSP list alcohol and drug-related conditions among the problems preventing them from working, the Courier-Mail reports.
Almost 1,400 Australians get the DSP solely because of drink or drug problems (stock image)
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants some Centrelink welfare recipients to be drug tested
About 1,500 DSP recipients have a primary mental condition caused by substance abuse
Those figures were revealed as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the same newspaper fresh legislation to trial drug testing for welfare recipients would be introduced.
For those over 21 or under 21 with children the maximum fortnightly DSP payment is $894.40, while the maximum Newstart Allowance for a single unemployed person is $538.80 a fortnight.
The Coalition’s attempt at a drug testing trial for some welfare recipients was blocked by the Senate. That provision was removed so other welfare reforms would pass.
Mr Turnbull told the Courier-Mail the Government still intended to go ahead with the drug testing trial.
‘It sure will, it absolutely will,’ Mr Turnbull said.
The Coalition’s attempt at a drug testing trial for welfare recipients was blocked (stock image)
Former social services minister Christian Porter told the same publication: ‘We have been willing to try new things on the basis that more of the same is not the answer to moving more people from welfare to work.’
‘People receiving welfare who are affected by drugs are failing to focus on securing work and so the drug testing measure was carefully designed to ensure it had that focus — getting people the help they need to overcome their drug issues.
‘We will not give up on trying new things to break cycles of welfare dependency and continue our success in moving people from welfare to work.’
Under the proposed plan, about 2,500 new Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients were to be drug tested in suburbs throughout Logan, south of Brisbane.
Those who failed would lose control of their welfare payment.
Alcohol and drug addiction are cited as medical conditions for thousands of DSP recipients