How much a pill-testing trial would cost Victoria

A two-year pill-testing trial would cost Victoria about $3.7 million, the Parliamentary Budget Office has found, as left-wing crossbenchers pressure the state government over drug reform after overdoses at this summer’s festivals.

The Greens and the Legalise Cannabis and Animal Justice parties will launch a debate in parliament in coming weeks on their joint bill for a trial of a fixed testing facility and mobile testing services that would rove between festivals.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell (left), Greens MP Aiv Puglielli and Rachel Payne from Legalise Cannabis.Credit: Justin McManus

Premier Jacinta Allan had ruled out change after a mass overdose at the Hardmission electronic music festival last month, which was largely caused by people overheating after taking MDMA. But Allan signalled a shift in tone after a week of pressure and two more hospitalisations, linked to Juicy Fest, which was also held in January.

At that time, the premier said she was seeking further advice from the Health Department but had no plans for a change in policy. She said on Sunday that there were no updates to that.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam asked the Parliamentary Budget Office to calculate how much it would cost to run the pilot proposed by the crossbenchers. The office found the trial would cost about $3.7 million over two years.

Last year Pill Testing Australia offered to run a festival-based trial for free. The budget office-estimated cost of the crossbenchers’ proposed pilot is less than Victoria already spends responding to MDMA-related overdoses, according to analysis requested by Libertarian MP David Limbrick.

Pill testing to analyse illicit substances before consumption would not stop overdoses. But supporters say, and trials in other jurisdictions have shown, that users often discard drugs if they contain unexpected substances. Others may heed advice provided on the spot to reduce harm.

The latest analysis, based on a trial in the ACT, assumed the mobile service would visit 12 festivals a year and that a fixed site in inner-Melbourne would operate six hours a week across two days.

The budget office estimated a state-funded service would cost $3.2 million for general operations and staff costs, leasing a machine at the fixed site and maintenance for the mobile kits. About $500,000 would also be spent on assets, including buying mobile machines.

Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesman Aiv Puglielli said sniffer dogs and tough talk from police and politicians would not stop overdoses.

“The new premier has said she’s seeking further advice on pill testing. Well, the advice is clear, and it has been for years,” he said. “This is an opportunity to show courage, listen to the experts and save lives, rather than play to the politics of fear.”

Georgie Purcell, an upper house MP from the Animal Justice Party, said the evidence showed pill testing worked.

“It doesn’t encourage drug use, it simply makes it safer for those who do [use drugs],” she said. “As some of the youngest members of the Victorian Parliament, we know that people take drugs.”

Legalise Cannabis MP Rachel Payne said a drug-checking service would give people the chance to make an informed choice after a concerning start to 2024.

“We appreciate that the premier has opened the door and thank her for coming to the table,” Payne said.

Drug checking or pill testing, which allows a user to have the contents of their illicit substances analysed before consumption, is being trialled in the ACT and Queensland. Facilities for a mobile service, which could be set up at a tent within a festival, for example, can identify substances and common adulterants in a pill or powder but can’t check purity. A fixed site allows for greater testing capabilities.

NSW Health last week issued a warning over a tablet falsely sold as MDMA that contained a highly potent opioid. A Victorian government spokeswoman said there was no evidence to suggest this drug was in Victoria but that the Department of Health was working with NSW Health and Victoria Police to monitor the situation.

The ACT’s fixed site last month also uncovered three substances never before seen in Australia.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto opposes a trial and the Police Association of Victoria said pill testing would not be a panacea for all drug harm.

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