Former NT top cop Mick Palmer wants roll-out of pill testing to reduce harm at music festivals and parties

FORMER Northern Territory Police commissioner Mick Palmer wants a roll-out of pill testing to reduce harm at music festivals and parties. WHAT do you think? VOTE IN OUR POLL

Former Territory and Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer wants a roll-out of pill testing across the nation to reduce harm at music festivals and parties

FORMER Territory and Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer wants a roll-out of pill testing across the nation to reduce harm at music festivals and parties.

It is a call that has won the support of NT Labor’s MLA Jeff Collins, who is the head of the Territory Parliamentary Committee looking into harm reduction strategies for drugs and other substances.

Mr Palmer is calling on Territory and state leaders opposed to pill testing to rethink their stance.

More than 150 people were arrested at the weekend at Sydney’s Listen Out festival in Centennial Park for offences ranging from drug possession to drug supply.

More than 34,000 attended the festival on Saturday – meaning about one in every 214 music fans was allegedly found with drugs on them.

“My mind boggles at the thought that governments are not prepared to start a trial of pill testing,” the Territory’s former top cop said.

“Clearly those opposed to the idea do not have the courage to say what we’ve got now is not working.”

Mr Palmer, a 33-year career police officer, was Northern Territory Commissioner of Police, Fire and Emergency Service from 1988-1994 and as Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police from 1994 until March 2001.

He is a former member of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia.

Mr Collins agreed wholeheartedly with Mr Palmer.

“While this is my personal view, pill testing has been a consistent message from the people and groups that have made submissions to the NT Parliamentary Committee looking into harm-reduction strategies for drugs and other substances,” Mr Collins said.

“This is definitely not a message of condoning drugs.

HOT OFFER: GET 7-DAY PAPER DELIVERY AND FULL DIGITAL ACCESS TO THE NT NEWS FOR $1 A DAY FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS

“It is a matter of being a little bit more intelligent about our response.

“Pill testing provides really relevant, important information and that information is power in the immediate circumstances before kids are about to use them.

“If a young person is prepared to get whatever substance they are considering taking tested to see what is in it, the chances are they will not take the pill once they know what it can do to them.

“While we can’t stop every person from taking drugs, the vast majority of those kids will listen to the information you give them.”