'A fair policy': National's Louise Upston says proposed Jobseeker changes designed to get people work-ready

National's social development spokesperson says drugs are preventing jobseekers getting off the benefit.

The party's promising to randomly drug test people on the Jobseeker benefit, doing 10,000 in the first year. 

Louise Upston says the number of tests would expand depending on how many beneficiaries test positive.

She says it's about getting them work ready. 

"Employers will say they're really keen to take people on, but some of the people that they are presented with can't pass a drug test. And so they can't employ them." 

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