The Nick Xenophon Team will refuse to support the government’s plans to drug test welfare recipients, throwing a broader overhaul of the welfare system into doubt.

A spokeswoman for Rebekha Sharkie confirmed the NXT, which holds crucial crossbench votes in the Senate, will oppose the controversial drug-testing measure.

“At this point in time, NXT has reached the position of not supporting random drug testing,” she told Guardian Australia.

The government wants to drug test 5,000 welfare recipients at three trial locations; Logan in Queensland, Canterbury-Bankstown in south-western Sydney, and Mandurah in Western Australia.



Those who fail tests would first be placed on income management, then referred for drug treatment, and finally stripped of income support, should they choose not to engage.

Labor and the Greens have already signalled they will oppose drug testing welfare recipients, a measure which is wrapped up in a broader bill designed to overhaul Australia’s welfare system.

The NXT’s decision to oppose the measure makes the bill’s passage through the Senate extremely difficult in its current form.



NXT and the government have been negotiating for months over the bill.



Nick Xenophon, who has since resigned, said in August he would work “constructively” with the government on drug testing.

But the measure has been fiercely opposed by experts and frontline drug workers.

Critics, including former federal police commissioner Mick Palmer, say it will not help to deal with drug addiction, and will simply drive people away from the welfare system.

The most vulnerable in Australian society will simply be pushed further into poverty, and possibly into crime to help fund their addiction.

The Australian Council of Social Service has been one of strongest critics of the plan. Its chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, called on other members of the crossbench to oppose drug testing.

“It simply demonises people on low incomes and would do nothing to address addiction,” Goldie said. “Drug addiction is a serious health issue needing a serious response.

“We now urge all other members of the crossbench in parliament to follow suit, and reject random drug testing. The Senate must firmly reject this bill in its entirety.”



The broader welfare overhaul contains a number of other controversial measures. It will leave grieving families $1,300 worse off under planned cuts to a bereavement allowance meant for low-income households.

Major changes will be made to the compliance regime for jobseekers, and about 200 women will lose wife pension payments allowance for living overseas. Intent to claim provisions – designed to protect those who are entitled to welfare but are unable to lodge a full claim due to personal circumstances – are also to be removed.

A second bill tightens the requirements for older migrants seeking to access the pension, designed to make $119m in savings. Critics say that change creates a dangerous precedent, because it punishes people for previously claiming welfare.

“The welfare reform bill also includes a number of other harsh cuts to social security for people on low incomes – for example, taking payments from people bereaved and increased waiting periods for income support – and it must be opposed,” Goldie said.



“People are already hurting. Income support payments are already way below the poverty line. There is nothing more to take from people who already have the least,” she said.