Tasmanian Government stands firm on opposition to pill testing despite Hobart City Council endorsement

The State Government is standing firm on its opposition to pill testing despite increasing calls for it to trial the controversial policy.

THE State Government is standing firm on its opposition to pill testing despite increasing calls for it to trial the controversial policy.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has challenged new Health Minister Sarah Courtney to make a “courageous, lifesaving decision”, while independent Clark MP Andrew Wilkie also weighed in to endorse the Hobart City Council’s support for the idea.

But Premier Will Hodgman was standing firm in Beaconsfield yesterday, saying the Government had no plans to “trial the use of illicit drugs”.

Premier Will Hodgman at a press conference. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“There’s no safe way for that to occur so we don’t support it,” he said.

“There’s no safe way of taking them and it certainly sends a dangerous message to anyone who might be thinking about it.”

GOVERNMENT STANDING FIRM ON PILL TESTING

Mr Hodgman said they would always work constructively and cooperatively with other levels of government and key stakeholders to ensure policy decisions were evidence-based and not going to place people at risk.

“The advice and the evidence we’ve got suggests there very clearly is not only a negative message, a dangerous message, that can be spread through ideas such as these, but worse still is that there is no safe way to take illicit drugs,” Mr Hodgman said.

Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania chief executive Alison Lai has offered to brief the new ministers for Health and Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Courtney and Jeremy Rockliff, on the evidence for pill testing, but the offer is yet to be taken up.

The ATDC has also offered to independently lead the establishment of an advisory committee to enable government departments, such as police, health and justice, to work together and with event organisers and service providers like Pill Testing Australia to design the trial.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Pill testing saves lives — it is supported by experts within the drug and alcohol sector, former police commissioners, health professionals including the AMA and the Royal College of GPs, festival and event organisers and now Hobart City Council,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The Minister [Ms Courtney] needs to set aside dangerous political ideology and listen to the calls of event organisers and those within the health sector.”

Mr Wilkie told ABC Radio Hobart the State Government needed to understand it was a health issue and the response should be one of harm minimisation.

Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns also added his voice to the debate, saying he was disappointed the State Government was refusing to reconsider its position despite the medical evidence.