A contentious plan to drug test welfare recipients will be revived by the Morrison government next week as it seeks to win Senate crossbench support to establish three trial sites across Australia.

The two-year trial would test 5000 new recipients of Newstart and the Youth Allowance for illicit substances, quarantining the payments for those who test positive and replacing their obligation to seek work with taxpayer-funded drug counselling sessions.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston will attempt to revive the government's failed attempts to introduce drug testing trials for job seekers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The policy, first developed under the Turnbull government, was rejected twice by the previous Senate but will be reintroduced when Parliament resumes after a six-week winter break.

More than 40 welfare groups, including the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), have condemned the measure in the past, with the Australian Medical Association saying it would increase stigmatisation among the most disadvantaged in the community.