Liberal health minister’s plea to Shorten: Force state ALP to dump pill testing

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has taken the extraordinary step of imploring federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to put an end to NSW Labor’s “pussyfooting” on pill testing.

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HEALTH Minster Brad Hazzard has taken the extraordinary step of imploring Bill Shorten to put an end to NSW Labor’s “pussy footing” on pill testing, with the federal leader warned his state counterpart is “allowing young people to continue to dice with death”.

In a letter sent to Mr Shorten late yesterday, Mr Hazzard has launched a scathing rebuke of Labor’s plans to hold a drug summit to canvass opinions on pill testing.

“Any equivocation in a message coming from leaders to young people opens the door to potential death as they continue in the belief that swallowing MDMA is safe,” Mr Hazzard write.

“My concern is that Mr Daley’s approach is allowing young people to continue to dice with death.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard wants NSW Labor to stop to put ‘pussyfooting’ on pill testing. Picture: Adam Yip

Opposition Leader Michael Daley slammed the letter from Health Minister Brad Hazzard imploring Bill Shorten to put an end to NSW Labor’s “pussyfooting” on pill testing as a political “stunt”.

Mr Daley accepted a 100,000 signature petition on pill testing at NSW Parliament this morning but insisted it was a matter of “common courtesy” and did not represent an endorsement of the idea. He plans to hold a drug summit to consider pill testing if he wins the state election in March.

“Firstly can I say about this unfortunate stunt today - if I’m saying I want to listen to people and I want to hear from the experts... then Brad Hazzard wants to turn that into a political discussion, then I think that’s really unfortunate,” he said.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“It seeks to underscore my point that we’re just becoming like America - I don’t want that. I said the day that I became Leader of the Opposition that I think we need a more civilised discourse in this country and people are sick to death of politicians screaming at each other.

“Let’s stop the screaming, all calm down and have a sensible debate.”

Mr Daley said he had not spoken with Mr Shorten about the letter, adding: “I don’t need validation from anyone - everyone’s entitled to their view and if they want to come along to the drug summit and put that view they’re most welcome but I don’t need to speak to anyone else to feel secure in my position”.

The petition was presented by Adriana Buccianti, who is convinced pill testing technology could have saved her son Daniel from dying at a Victorian music festival in 2012.

Mr Daley, who is a father-of-four, became emotional as he accepted the petition but said it was a “matter of common courtesy to a citizen who has done a lot of work”.

“I haven’t come close to endorsing pill testing - I’ve been completely and utterly consistent with my views,” he said.

“I will listen to the experts and if we have a drug summit and the views come back and say best not to go down that path... then I won’t go down that path.”

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Mr Hazzard also launched a stinging attack on Labor spokesman Walt Secord, noting he pushed for shadow cabinet to consider their position on pill testing in 2017.

There have been five pill-related deaths at music festivals in NSW since September, and with three events to be held this weekend the state government is imploring young people to heed the dire warnings and not consume drugs.

The government is staunchly opposed to pill testing as it gives users a false belief their drugs could be safe.

Meanwhile NSW Labor has left open the option of introducing pill testing with their drug summit idea.

“Ahead of this weekend’s festivals, I ask you to intervene with Mr Daley and Mr Secord in the interests of young people. Mr Daley and Mr Secord need to hear from yourself… that they are recklessly undermining critical public health messages,” Mr Hazzard writes.

Mr Hazzard writes it is a “life and death matter” and points out that Labor leaders in Victoria and Western Australia, as well as Mr Shorten, have expressed opposition to pill testing.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Hazzard said his state labor colleagues were “pussy footing around” and “are clearly not prepared to back in the message of Mr Shorten”.

He said he was worried this weekend’s festivals would be especially dire.

“We’re likely to see temperatures up over 40C and that is the absolutely most dangerous circumstances for somebody taking an ecstasy tablet. The tablet cooks you from the inside and you won’t even know it,” he said.

“My message (to Mr Daley and Mr Secord) is for heaven’s sake just make it clear you’re backing your interstate colleagues to try and keep kids safe. It’s time to stop playing games.”

Originally published as Liberal health minister’s plea to Shorten: Force state ALP to dump pill testing