Drug soldiers may be off the hook

A legal ruling may see 33 Territory soldiers who tested positive for drugs let off the hook, it was revealed last night.

Defence minister Robert Hill confirmed in Parliament this week that a drug case against an officer was dismissed in September.

The magistrate found the Government failed to enact laws authorising officers to collect urine samples for random drug tests.

The ruling raises questions about the validity of the cases of 33 personnel dismissed from the army after returning positive drug tests during a raid at Darwin's Robertson Barracks in October last year.

Senator Hill said he was unaware of any other dismissed cases and was seeking advice on the ruling.

"We will deal with theconsequences of that ... finding in a way that gives the military the confidence they need to ensure that their zero drugs tolerance policy ... can be properly ... respected," he said.

Of 97 soldiers drug tested at Robertson Barracks during the October 2003 raid, 47 -- more than half -- tested positive for drugs such as cannabis and amphetamines -- 33 were dismissed.

Since the embarrassing result, the army has launched a massive random testing program in a bid to purge drug-takers from the military and restore its battered reputation.

A report in November 2003 said the ADF was expecting to test 5000 personnel in the coming year.

Opposition defence personnel spokesman Arch Bevis said former assistant defence minister Danna Vale had promised to introduce regulations for random drug testing two years ago, but never did so.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 8th December 2004
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News