As part of the Turnbull government's welfare crackdown 5,000 people a year on Newstart and Youth Allowance will be drug tested in three locations across the country.



The locations, still to be determined, will be based on demographic data and focus on areas with high drug use.



The government confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Centrelink recipients will be chosen for drug testing based on “ data-driven profiling tools ”, also known as "risk profiling".

"Risk profiling will be used to identify particular characteristics that indicate a high risk of substance misuse issues," senator Scott Ryan said.

"Jobseekers with these characteristics will be selected randomly from within the broader group."

This means the government will target welfare recipients that Centrelink knows or suspects has a substance abuse issue, and put them in a group for "random" drug testing.

But, Ryan added, this doesn't mean only people with an identified history of substance abuse will be drug tested.

