Given the scourge of drug and alcohol abuse, parents in SA may be forced to submit to drug and alcohol testing by the state’s child protection boss, if it is believed that a child may be at risk due to the parent’s substance abuse.

The state government first decided to leave the power to order drug and alcohol tests to a court but has now agreed to allow these powers to be given to the Child Protection Department chief executive.

These amendments are in accordance with a recommendation made by Margaret Nyland, Royal Commission head that the child protection authority be given the power to issue written direction compelling parents to submit to substance tests if a child is at risk.