Brief No.BP03 
Department of Immigration and Border Protection 
Supplementary Estimates – October 2016 
 
BACK POCKET BRIEF 
SE2016-BP03 - Drug and Alcohol Management Program 
Key Statistics 
Item/place/KPI 
2013/2014*** 
2014/15 
2015/16  
1/7/16 – 
5/2/16 – 
30/09/16 
30/9/16** 
Total Drug and 
1675 
1691 
3517 
688 
2907 
Alcohol Tests (incl. 
targeted tests) 
All Positive Drug 
Data not available 
12 
15 
4 
11 
Tests 
All Positive 
Data not available 
Nil 
2 
1 
2 
Alcohol Tests 
All Targeted 
Data not available  Data not available 
29  (5 hair) 
5 
16  (3 hair) 
Testing 
All Positive 
Data not available  Data not available 
5  (2 hair) 
4 (0 hair) 
7 (0 hair) 
targeted tests 
*From Beginning of financial year to end of Statistics reporting date for Additional Estimates 
**From Previous Hearing to end of Statistics reporting date for Additional Estimates 
***To reflect figures predominately from 8 Sept 2013 Post election 
 
Key Talking Points 
 
  All Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) workers have been covered by 
the Drug and Alcohol policy since 1 July 2015. 
  The Australian Border Force Act 2015 empowers authorised officers to direct workers to 
present for drug and alcohol tests. The Australian Border Force (Drug and Alcohol Tests) Rule 
2015 stipulates the standards that the testing must meet. 
  Random testing is based on a breath sample for alcohol and a urine sample for prohibited drugs. 
  The testing of workers has identified 22 positive results since 1 July 2015: 
  16 for cannabis, which includes 5 positive targeted tests, 
  3 for cocaine, all of which were targeted tests, and 
  3 for alcohol, 2 of which were targeted tests. 
  This result confirms that less than 0.5 per cent of tests undertaken since integration were 
positive, and that workers whose actions impact the integrity and reputation of the Department 
can be identified through the testing  process. 
 
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Brief No.BP03 
“If asked” why the Department is testing all staff and not limiting testing to operational 
areas? 
  Part 5 of  the Australian Border Force Act 2015 states all Immigration and Border Protection  
workers are subject to drug and alcohol testing, rather than only the Australian Border Force.  
  Further, knowledge by criminals of the contradiction between an employee’s drug use and the 
mission of the Department can be exploited in an attempt to corrupt that official.  
  Back-office staff can be just as vulnerable to corruption efforts as front-line officers - a risk 
highlighted in a 2014 report by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. 
Background 
The Australian Border Force Act 2015 empowers authorised officers to direct workers to present 
for drug and alcohol tests. The Australian Border Force (Drug and Alcohol Tests) Rule 2015 
stipulates the standards that the testing must meet. 
The principles which support the DAMP are: 
  zero tolerance for the possession, use and selling of prohibited drugs 
  low tolerance for alcohol (below 0.02 breath alcohol concentration – 0.02 grams of alcohol per 
210 litres of breath and 0.00 grams of alcohol per 210 litres of breath for workers issued 
weapons) while on duty 
  a focus on the behaviours that support a drug and alcohol free workplace. 
The DAMP applies to all DIBP workers, defined by the Secretary’s determination as being all 
workers, whether DIBP workers, officers of other government agencies, or contractors or 
consultants providing services to DIBP and requiring non-public access to DIBP assets.  
Drug and alcohol testing is conducted by a contracted service provider in a way that is respectful 
towards those being tested and observes procedural fairness and natural justice. 
Workers must comply with directions to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Failure to comply with 
the direction, or failing a drug or alcohol test, can and has resulted in a range of sanctions including 
termination.  
Significant Issues  
No significant issues noted during this period. 
Consultation 
External agencies consulted:  N/A 
Responsible Officer 
Contact Officer 
Murali Venugopal, FAS People Division 
David Leonard, AS, WHS and EA Branch 
Ph: (02) 6264 3062                                        
Ph: (02) 6264 3451                                                
Mob: 0455 050 090 
Mob: 0417 465 553 
 
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