Thousands of Australians will soon be forced to undertake random drug tests to hold onto their welfare payments.

Beginning next year, 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients across three locations will be included in the two-year trial of drug testing.

The government will also introduce a crackdown on anyone receiving multiple payments and recipients who fail to turn up to appointments or to take on work could face losing their payments completely.

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The government will come down hard on welfare recipients who choose not to take on suitable work. Source: AAP

Job seekers will be selected at random and tested for drugs including ecstasy, ice and marijuana.

Anyone who tests positive to a test will be placed on welfare quarantining, while those who fail more than once will be referred to medical professions for assessment and treatment.

“We will no longer accept, as an excuse from repeat offenders, that the reason they could not meet their mutual obligation requirements was because they were drunk or drug-affected,” Treasurer Scott Morrison said.

“JobSeeker recipients who test positive would be placed on the Cashless Debit Card for their welfare payments and be subjected to further tests and possible referral for treatment.”

The cost of this measure - which is certain to raise the ire of welfare advocates - is deemed commercial-in-confidence and has not been published.





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Source: AAP

The Turnbull government says the trial is part of a suite of reforms to stop welfare payments being used to fuel drug and alcohol addictions.

Cashless welfare cards will also be expanded across two new locations, with the income management program extended for another two years to June 2019, after two test runs showed positive results for problem gambling and alcohol consumption.

Welfare will be denied to people with disabilities caused solely by their own substance abuse.

Other welfare measures include tougher verification requirements for single parents seeking welfare and a crackdown on those attempting to rake in multiple payments.

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