Liberal MP Tim Wilson backs pill testing push

Liberal MP Tim Wilson has added his voice to the growing calls for pill testing trials, saying a “head-in-the-sand” approach doesn’t work.

A Liberal backbencher has added his voice to growing calls for pill testing trials, saying a “head-in-the-sand” approach doesn’t work.

Victorian MP Tim Wilson, a key figure in the campaign for same-sex marriage, is part of a group of Liberal MPs calling for drug policy reform as the debate over pill-testing heats up after a tragic string of deaths at music festivals.

The former Australian Human Rights commissioner has told The Australian there needs to be a ­“mature national conversation” on the issue.

“It’s been clear to me for years that we had a war on drugs, and the drugs won,” Mr Wilson told the publication.

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Liberal MP Tim Wilson said testing trials should not be dismissed. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

“Like alcohol prohibition fails, a head-in-the-sand approach doesn’t work and leaves behind stories of human wreckage; many who are completely innocent like family and friends.”

Mr Wilson said pill testing wasn’t the only solution but added that community-based trials shouldn’t be immediately dismissed “if our objective is to keep kids alive”.

The March for Pill Testing held outside Sydney Town Hall on Saturday January 19. Picture: AAP

He backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who yesterday said nothing should be off the table in preventing people from dying from drug overdoses.

Queensland LNP MP Warren Entsch, also a key figure in the same-sex marriage campaign, also said yesterday that pill testing should be considered as an option.

Mr Entsch has called for Mr Morrison to chair a national drugs summit with state governments.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews are resisting calls to introduce pill-testing.

Read more at The Australian