Pubdate: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Copyright: 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald Contact: GPO Box 3771, Sydney NSW 2001 Fax: +61-(0)2-9282 3492 Website: http://www.smh.com.au/ Forum: http://forums.fairfax.com.au/ Author: David Humphries DRUG TEST FOR PARENTS TO RETRIEVE CHILDREN Parents whose children are removed from the family home because of drug-related abuse or neglect will be drug tested as a condition of retrieving them, under a plan by the Community Services Minister, Mrs Lo Po'. Today she will release the report of a special investigation by the NSW Child Death Review Team, which found that 86 children of drug-dependent families had died in the State over the past 3 years. For too long, Mrs Lo Po' said yesterday, authorities had been forced to accept "hollow promises" of parents to give up drugs. But the review team's report had reinforced determination not to return children to dangerous home environments. She said it "graphically and tragically illustrates" how some parents' drug use "endangers their child's life". The stance represents another step in the minister's campaign to remove children permanently from abusive families that do not mend their ways. Last month she proposed the adoption of infant state wards, rather than rounds of foster caring, claiming this would help reverse the welfare system's emphasis of putting parents' rights ahead of children's. Mrs Lo Po' said the review found many drug-addicted parents tried to beat their habits through detoxification, rehabilitation and methadone programs, which could take years. "The report found that some parents can change but not in time to meet the developmental needs of their children," she said. "We live in an age where Olympic athletes are drug-tested before they can receive a gold medal. So why wouldn't we consider testing parents before they are permitted to keep the most precious prize of all?" Mrs Lo Po' said she had discussed her plan with the Attorney-General, Mr Shaw, "and he agreed it should be closely considered". "I'm not talking about random drug testing for all parents," Mrs Lo Po' said. "We're talking about drug testing that group of parents who have already had their children removed because their drug use has led to child abuse or neglect. "They need to demonstrate that they have mended their ways before we can risk returning the children. And drug testing may help in assessing the risk." Mrs Lo Po' said details were yet to be worked out, but she would seek the review team's advice on drug testing and consult a government working group about to start studying long-term care of children at risk if returned to their parents. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson