Howard promises drug crackdown
Mr Howard said welfare recipients convicted of offences involving heroin, cocaine or amphetamines would have their payments quarantined for an initial one-year period which could be extended in some circumstances.
“We are the zero-tolerance Coalition when it comes to drugs,” Mr Howard said.
“It’s not right that people should have control of taxpayer money when they have been convicted of such offences.”
Mr Howard said the policy would mean such offenders would not be able to spend their welfare money on hard drugs or on drugs like tobacco and alcohol.
Mr Howard said about 6000 people would be affected by the quarantining.
If re-elected, he would also seek greater consistency in illicit drug laws across state jurisdictions, he said.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr Rosanna Capolingua said that the AMA did not support schemes that punished drug users.
“Punitive measures for drug addicts are not really the answer,” Dr Capolingua said.
“People who have a drug addiction actually need help, support and assistance as they are actually unwell.”
Dr Capolingua said she had not seen details of the plan but suggested it may be more appropriate for drug dealers.
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