Image: NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann. AAP Image, Bianca de Marchi
by GRACE JOHNSON
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, a spokesperson for drug harm reduction, has introduced legislation in the Upper House of Parliament that would allow a trial of pill testing at music festivals and a fixed site across New South Wales.
The Bill will approve a licensing scheme for three mobile pill testing sites and one fixed testing site administered by the Secretary of NSW Health. Mobile testing sites can be established at a concert, festival, dance party or similar event.
The Bill comes after a greater push from the Greens for a pill-testing trial following the death of two men at a music festival in September.
Ms Faehrmann said, “Four years on from the Coronial Inquest into the death of six patrons of NSW music festivals, we’ve still not had a Government with the courage to introduce an evidence-based policy which has widespread public and stakeholder support.”
“All the experts agree that pill testing reduces the potential harm from drugs, by alerting people to what’s in a drug they might be about to consume, and by providing vital information as to how to stay as safe as possible if they intend to take it,” she continued.
NSW Premier Chris Minns previously argued that pill-testing was not a one-stop solution for preventing drug-related deaths.
“I don’t want to give anyone … an impression that pill testing is a silver bullet that will stop every harm happening at a festival,” he said in October.
Furthermore, he said he would not consider pill testing or any other major reforms until after a promised drug summit takes place. No date for the drug summit has been confirmed, despite it being a key election promise.
Many were also outraged after Labor failed to outline funding for the summit in September’s budget.
“This is what saving lives looks like”
Ms Faehrmann acknowledged the split in government over pill testing, saying, “Several members of the NSW Government have already broken ranks and come out in favour of pill testing this year.”
In October, Labor MP Cameron Murphy split with the Minns government over pill testing, urging for a pill-testing trial ahead of the upcoming music festival season.
In his speech to Parliament, he said, “My immediate fear is that more people will die this summer if nothing is done. It is morally wrong not to act when we know this, and have the chance to protect people in NSW.”
NSW Health distributes public warnings about contaminated or high-dose drugs detected in the community, acknowledging that there is a reason to put pill testing in place.
“Yet what person under 25 is going to tune in to a tweet or instagram post from NSW Health?” said Ms Faehrmann.
“A pill testing service at a music festival could alert all festival-goers to a dangerous substance in circulation by a text message to all ticket holders. This is what saving lives looks like.”
Emphasising the need for pill testing ahead of summer, Ms Faehrmann said, “I urge the NSW Government to put in place pill testing for the summer festival period. Pill Testing Australia, who has conducted successful pill testing operations in the ACT, is ready to go tomorrow. They’ve even offered to provide services at no cost to the government.”
“We’ve had two deaths this festival season already. We have to follow the best available evidence to prevent any more.”
