Music Festival Pill Testing

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Hon. Stephen Wade, Minister for Health and Wellbeing, about pill testing at music events.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Recently, the ACT government allowed a trial of pill testing, a harm reduction service that analyses the contents of drugs to detect unknown or potentially lethal substances in illicit drugs at a music festival known as Groovin the Moo. Police had agreed to turn a blind eye to the service, which was used by 128 participants. Of the samples tested, 50 per cent contained harmless substances; the rest was pure MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly. Two samples were found to be deadly and were discarded, perhaps saving the lives of those who had them. Some hailed the trial a success.

At a dance festival a week later there was no pill testing; police seized thousands of drugs, hundreds sought treatment and three were taken to hospital. My question to the minister is: is his government considering implementing a pill testing trial at coming music events?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:27): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Marshall Liberal government has no plans for a pill testing trial. The fact that the ACT government has done this, and the fact that it is an Australian first, demonstrates the fact that it's not evidence based. We believe that such an approach sends the wrong message to people that illicit drugs can be safe. The fact that the police had to turn a blind eye, to me, is very concerning.

If a harm minimisation approach is well founded on evidence, then a government should have the courage to take it to the parliament and argue its case. The fact that law enforcement officers were asked to turn a blind eye, to me, raises concerns. I think it also raises concerns in terms of the message it sends to young people. We certainly have no intention of a trial in South Australia.