After the government revealed in the Budget this week it would introduce drug testing of welfare recipients, Senate crossbencher Jacqui Lambie had this response: why not test pollies too?
“If you think it’s drug free up here you’re kidding yourselves” - @JacquiLambie wants politicians DRUG TESTED. Thou… https://t.co/nIE1uNwXEM
"If they’re being paid by taxpayers on welfare, how come politicians and public servants aren’t getting the same treatment and leading by example?" Lambie asked on Channel Seven's Sunrise on Wednesday.
"If you think it’s drug free up here you’re kidding yourselves."
Her comments received a lot of attention, and led to senior Coalition pollies being questioned on whether they'd take a drug test, or had used drugs.
In an interview with BuzzFeed News on Thursday, treasurer Scott Morrison said he had never, ever used illegal drugs.
In a Facebook Live interview with the Huffington Post, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said he'd take a test any time.
On Radio National's Wednesday Drive program finance minister Mathias Cormann joined the conga line of heavy hitters agreeing to a swab.
And on Drive on Thursday, social services minister Christian Porter said he once inhaled marijuana as a "very young youth".
Meanwhile, backbencher George Christensen told activist group GetUp that he was "happy to deliver" his wee to them for testing.
That's a lot of talk. But will drug testing for politicians ever become a reality?
Mathias Cormann said he'd "take on notice" a question about whether the government would consider mandating drug tests for politicians as well as welfare recipients.