Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

Through you, Mr President, this measure is a trial, firstly. This measure is a trial for 5,000 new applicants to the jobseeker payment. But it is also actually aimed at supporting those people. It is aimed at ensuring that people do not fall into habitual drug use which can profoundly damage their health and future employment prospects. I am of the view, and the government is of the view, that this particular measure is very fair. It is going to ensure that we can direct people to services that they need. The critics of this have fallen into the trap of assigning or impugning a motive to those proposing it. The government has made clear, the minister has made clear—

Senator Pratt interjecting—

I cannot quite hear you, Senator Pratt. The government has made clear and the minister has made clear that this is a policy that is being directed to support those applicants and to prevent people from falling into habits that can damage themselves, their families and their economic welfare over the longer term. So I think it is quite fair. It is actually about supporting participation.