Premier’s party pills backflip: Health officials set to test illicit drugs

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman has criticised Premier Chris Minns’ shifted stance on pill testing, saying there is “no evidence” it saves lives. Here’s why the Premier changed his mind.

Health officials will start testing illicit drugs at music festivals from February next year under a 12-month pill-testing trial called for by the co-chairs of the government’s Drug Summit.

The trial marks a reversal in position for Premier Chris Minns who has been sceptical of pill-testing as a way to reduce harm.

A key factor that convinced Mr Minns to change his mind on pill testing was the fact that testers can now check potency of drugs, which is often a feature in overdoses.

Under the trial, pushed for by Health Minister Ryan Park, festival-goers who manage to sneak illegal drugs into certain music festivals will be able to get the substances tested for purity, potency, and additives.

While drug reform advocates have long pushed for pill-testing as a way to reduce harm, experts have warned that pure party drugs can be just as deadly as those cut with unknown additives.

A Compact FTIR Spectrometer pill testing machine. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

The trial will begin in the first quarter of next year, and will likely involve drug-checking tents at festivals where people have overdosed or experienced other drug-related harms in the past five years.

About 10 festivals are expected to be chosen to take part.

Policing exclusion zones are expected to be in place around pill testing sites, but drug possession will remain illegal at any festivals chosen for the trial.

Opposition leader Mark Speakman criticised the move. Picture: Matrix

Opposition leader Mark Speakman said pill testing could lull people into a “false sense of security”.

“As we enter the festival season, there is no safe way to take drugs, and we have no evidence pill testing saves lives,” he said on Thursday.

“In fact, it may encourage a false sense of security.

“Even a supposedly pure substance can still cause serious harm.

“Labor and Chris Minns once opposed pill testing, but now support it without providing the evidence behind their shift.

“We need evidence-based decisions, not guesswork, and we should focus on educating young people so they can make safer choices.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns has backflipped on his previous pill testing stance. Picture: Richard Dobson

The trial was an “urgent” recommendation from Drug Summit co-chairs Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden, who said it could save lives over summer.

Mr Park sought advice on a pill-testing trial from Ms Tebbutt and Mr Brogden after the conclusion of the summit earlier this month.

“Based on this advice, which reflects the diverse range of views of experts, frontline workers and people with lived experience, we will embark on a limited trial of pill testing based at music festivals,” he said.

“I’ve always said that we would evaluate areas for reform carefully, diligently and pragmatically – and that’s what this trial is all about,” Mr Park said.

The Premier, who has previously resisted calls to introduce pill-testing, insisted that taking illicit drugs “remains illegal”.

“I want to stress that this is a trial, and we be guided by the evidence we are presented,” he said.

Testers can now check potency of drugs, which is often a feature in overdoses.

“The trial has a clear purpose – to reduce harm and save lives

“This trial does not change police powers, and if you commit a crime, you may be charged and prosecuted,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said that police will still target drug suppliers at music festivals selected for the trial.

“This 12-month trial focuses on harm minimisation for individuals considering the personal use of

illegal drugs.

“Drug supply remains a serious offence and poses a significant risk to the community,” she said.

Advocates for pill-testing have long argued that the process can save lives by identifying drugs cut with harmful chemicals, opioids or stimulants.

But experts have also said that pure substances can be just as harmful, pointing to instances where users have overdosed by overheating or over-hydrating.