After a successful pill testing trial at a New South Wales music festival over the weekend, Greens MP Helen Burnet is again renewing calls for similar measures in Tasmania.
The government-run testing station at the Yours and Owls festival analysed 80 drug samples from 103 festival attendees.
Around 90% of substances, including MDMA, ketamine and cocaine, matched users’ expectations about what they had purchased.
“Nobody was told that their drugs were completely safe but they were empowered to make a choice,” Burnet told Parliament on Thursday.
“Importantly, every single one of them had a discussion with a health professional around harm minimisation.”
Burnet called Tasmania’s inaction “really disappointing” and noted a trial could begin tomorrow “with the stroke of the Minister’s pen”.
“We know that people are going to choose to use drugs at these kinds of events. It’s just part and parcel of the experience for some people,” she said.
“We can either choose to put in place an evidence-led preventive harm minimisation strategy, or we can bury our heads in the sands and continue to see people hospitalised or worse when something goes horribly wrong.”
The state government last month said its opposition to pill testing has not changed but that it is “always open to having discussions with festival organisers”.
“Our government will not be introducing pill testing for illicit drug at festivals and events,” Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch said.
“Previously our government, through the Department of Health, worked successfully with festival organisers behind the Falls Festival and Party in the Paddock to establish a safe space and increase health resources.”
He also pointed to the “health-focused” approach being implemented through the Tasmanian Drug Strategy 2024-2029.
“We recognise that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use is a health issue and there are many factors that can influence the use and misuse of both legal and illicit drugs,” Jaensch said.
