We don't want their gas plant, they don't want us

[garywmeyerhoff]

Members of the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) have been outraged by revelations that hundreds of Territorians missed out on work because of past illicit drug use. The claims, by the Murdoch Sunday Territorian come days after an announcement that 65 people had been purged from the Australian Defence Force for the same reason, many from Robertson Barracks south of Darwin.

 

ConocoPhillips, the company responsible for building the new Gas Plant at Wickham Point in Darwin harbour, told the Sunday Territorian that 40% of NT residents who applied for jobs on the project were rejected because of failed drug and alcohol tests.

 

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “According to reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare it seems that illicit drug users make up the majority of the population in the Northern Territory. It is extremely distressing to hear that over half of the local population is being overlooked because of the results of a dodgy urine test, especially when the Australian Drug Czar Brian Watters has accused illicit drug users of lining up in dole queues demanding social security benefits.”

 

The NAP are vehemently opposed to drug testing in the workplace and see it as yet another attack on the civil liberties of innocent people. Meyerhoff said “The drug tests are unreliable and are no indication of whether a person is fit or unfit for work. A positive drug test may result because a person smoked a joint a week ago, injected a line of speed the day before, or received a dose of methadone from the local chemist that morning, none of these mean that a person is unfit for work.”

 

“In fact, the US Air Force regularly gives methamphetamines to its fighter pilots who were involved in the bombing of Iraq – to enhance their concentration.”

 

“Drug testing in the workplace takes away the individuals right to privacy and means the criminalisation of the Northern Territory lifestyle.”

 

“This is just another example of how our elected representatives are completely out of touch with the average Territorian.”

 

“What is really unhealthy? We all continue to use illicit drugs that really aren’t as bad as the government make them out to be? Or ConocoPhillips spew toxic waste into the environment and rape Darwin’s unique mangroves?”

 

The Network Against Prohibition will be holding their 16th Community Smoke-In for Human Rights on Saturday the 13th March and they are encouraging the locals who have been rejected by ConocoPhillips to come along and have their say.

 

For more information, call Gary on 0415 16 2525

 

Click here for the Sunday Territorian Article

 

Click here for the NAP website :angry: :angry: :angry:

Edited February 22, 2004 by garywmeyerhoff

[Luke Skywalker]

Thanks gary, I personally don't think there's any reason to drug test an employee, unless it shows direct intoxication or direct effects of intoxication in a work environment which is likely to cause death or injury to others if the worker is intoxicated. WHATEVER THE SUBSTANCE MIGHT BE.

 

Too many drug tests are excluding many classes of drugs which are more likely to cause effect on work than many illicit drugs. A relative of mine works in the mining industry, and they say that although some drugs are restricted, and result in suspension and perhaps firing from their jobs, many illicit drugs simply aren't tested for. Like lsd, speed, most other hallucinogens. Even in some cases opiates are ignored, as they are hard to isolate from others which are routinely taken by workers for small complaints, or legitimate medical reasons. This is all just what they've told me tho, I can't say it's absolutely true....

 

I must say that using tests as an employment condition is abhorrent really, although there must be some exceptions. I personally think a lot of money should be poured into true intoxication, rather than just drug detection technologies. As you say, the present system is used to exclude potential workers who are completely fit for said work.

 

The idea that simply by exluding people for drugs use, in the past, from employment in areas not directly threatened by that use, is stupid. And just re-inforces the problems prohibition is causing on most of the population. How many people's children, how many people's fathers, mothers, sisters, friends, uncles, aunts.... have been discriminated against or even gaoled because they don't think that the government, or anyone else for that matter, should have anything to do with the drugs they injest... For the most part, this drug use is safe, or could be made safe if the prohibtionary restrictions were relieved. Prohibtion itself is the cause of most of the problems here, not the drugs.

 

Thanks again gary, keep fighting.

[Buddy]

I wonder why there is no test for nicatine or caffeine ?

Silly question....please ignore

[Luke Skywalker]

No, not a silly question at all. Both of those are substantially effective on humans, and can alter reaction times and complex thoughts/considerations. Nicoteine raises the heart rate, and can lead to high blood pressure. Not to mention momentary elation of the dose from a cigarette....

 

Good point mate.

 

Caffeine and nicoteine are very, very potent and dangerous drugs in our society, far more dangerous than pot could ever be.