Home / World News / Drug testing for welfare recipients in Australia raises privacy concerns

Drug testing for welfare recipients in Australia raises privacy concerns

Centrelink is the government agency responsible for welfare payments and many other human services

Pharmaceuticals, drugs, pharma industry, medical, health, lab

Premium

Illustration: Binay Sinha

Last Updated : May 19 2017 | 9:19 AM IST

Trial drug testing of welfare recipients is to be introduced by the Australian government. This measure may well turn out to be popular with voters. An online poll taken since 2015 by isideWith.com has 59% answering ‘Yes’ to the question “Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?’ from more than 35,000 responses.

However, it has copped lots of flak online by Australians who view it as reinforcing stereotypes surrounding poverty and unemployment or as violating people's privacy.

Centrelink is the government agency responsible for welfare payments and many other human services. The trial will involve 5,000

What you get on BS Premium?

Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app.
Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them.
Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006.
Preferential invites to Business Standard events.
Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more.

VIEW ALL FAQs

Need More Information - write to us at assist@bsmail.in