But Cheryl, who preferred not to give her last name, was part of a surprising number of local supporters for the federal government's planned trial of random drug testing for welfare recipients in Canterbury-Bankstown.

"I one hundred per cent support it," she said, taking a breather on a bench at Bankstown Central shopping centre. "Two hundred per cent.

"If you're employed, employers have the right to do random drug-testing in certain areas. Why not where people rock up to ask for something for nothing?"

It's not that Cheryl is a heartless hardliner. Having had to retire early from a human resources job for medical reasons, she said she knew how valuable welfare could be but was frustrated that people she knew had stayed on it for years.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing people say 'that's my money. How dare the government tell me how to spend it'," she said.

"It's not. It's taxpayers' money and they're helping you get through a rough patch until you can get on your feet."

Others held very different views in Bankstown on the day the government announced the area had been chosen for the trial next year because of an increase in welfare recipients and ice-related hospitalisations.

"Isn't it taking your rights away?" said Samuel, who also preferred not to give his surname, on the steps of the Centrelink office. Having lost his labouring job, he has just started receiving benefits.

"They're just making it more difficult," he said. "It's an excuse. Maybe they need to give people work."

Another resident, who did not want to be named at all, questioned why Canterbury-Bankstown had been chosen.

"I don't know why they're targeting this area," he said. "I grew up here and we're always in the media.

"I shop here and I shop in Punchbowl and Lakemba. To me, it's a lot safer than a lot of other areas."

Cheryl, who has lived in Bankstown for 27 years, was not at all worried about being one of the trial locations.

"It's probably because of the level of welfare here," she said. "You'd expect that if it's a high level, you'd target that.

"But given that it's starting in a handful of areas - this being one of them - I'd expect it would eventually branch out to all areas. Somebody's got to be a test case."

Syrian refugee Marwan Almithyab, from Yagoona, believes other suburbs have a worse ice problem than Bankstown.

"There's a bigger problem in other areas of Sydney, like Redfern and northern Sydney," he said. But if it was a requirement to receive welfare, he would be fine with random drug-testing.

"It's not about being intrusive," he said. "It's a right for the government if you have support from the government."

Rod, who was applying for benefits after being laid off recently, was also happy to be drug-tested.

"No problem," he said cheerfully. "All good."

Bangladeshi immigrant Mohammad Moinulromn, from Lakemba, was just delighted that Australia had a strong welfare system to help people with health problems, including drug addiction.

"We appreciate the initiatives," he said. "It's a very nice system. In the USA, they don't have a very humanitarian service."

While without a job and unable to get welfare on his current visa, Mr Moinulromn would also be happy to be drug-tested.

"Of course," he said. "I'm ready to do that."