Pubdate: Sun, 22 Feb 2004
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Contact:  2004 Northern Territory News
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283
Author: Suellen Hinde
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

DRUG TESTS FAILED

HUNDREDS of Territorians have missed out on a job at the Wickham Point LNG 
plant in Darwin because they failed a drug test.

The Sunday Territorian has learned about 4000 people applied for a position 
constructing the plant and pipeline, and about half of these were Territorians.

And of those who were interviewed, about 40 per cent were not offered jobs 
because of their drug test results.

ConocoPhillips Darwin area vice-president Blair Murphy would not confirm 
how many applicants were interviewed.

"We have no comments regarding the drug testing, regarding specific 
numbers, however, both Conoco and Bechtel have a policy that you are drug 
or alcohol tested before being employed as do a lot of industrial 
companies," Mr Murphy said.

But a senior Government source told the Sunday Territorian this week it was 
understood about 40 per cent of Territory applicants interviewed failed the 
drug and alcohol test.

Mr Murphy said there had been a high level of interest for jobs on the 
project from the local community.

About 525 workers are constructing the LNG Plant at Wickham Point -- 
expected to take three years -- with approximately 325 of these "local".

"We are still building the LNG tank at Wickham Point and have finished most 
of the dirt work and are starting to put up the structural steel," Mr 
Murphy said.

Another 500 workers would start work on the construction of the pipeline in 
Darwin harbour in June or July this year.

"We are doing the pre-work for that and the actual pipe laying in the 
harbour will take two to three weeks scheduled for the end of June or early 
July," he said.

Mr Murphy said the project was on schedule.

The Wickham Point Gas plant will bring gas on-shore to Darwin from the 
Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom