Southern Downs councillor Joel Richters calls out LNP government, MP James Lister over pill testing backflip
A regional councillor has slammed the state government after it slashed funding for a life-saving harm reduction strategy that was first implemented at a festival in the Southern Downs.
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A southern Queensland councillor has slammed the state government and the region’s MP over a decision to axe a helpful drug harm-reduction program.
The Southern Downs hosted the first Queensland trial of pill testing - a useful harm reduction scheme - at an electronic music festival located in the state’s south.
Southern Downs councillor Joel Richters said he was “deeply concerned” the LNP decided to defund pill testing services, in “a move that undermines public safety and ignores evidence-based harm reduction strategies”.
“While our local member James Lister suggests that pill testing ‘undermines respect for the law’, I firmly disagree,” Mr Richters said in a press release.
Mr Richters stated that his opinions are personal and does not form the official view of council. All council decisions are respected.
“Pill testing does not condone or encourage illegal drug use; instead, it provides individuals with critical information that can save lives. The data from the Rabbits Eat Lettuce (REL) festival is clear: 14 potentially lethal substances were voluntarily discarded after being tested,” he said.
“This action alone demonstrates the power of education and informed decision-making over punitive policies.”
Rabbits Eat Lettuce is an annual electronic music and culture festival hosted in the Southern Downs, making headlines for introducing a state-first pill testing initiative.
Last week, Health Minister Tim Nicholls confirmed the government would not renew the contracts of the two CheQpoints in the southeast when they expire in about April or May of 2025.
“The argument that individuals must simply ‘accept the consequences of their actions’ reflects an outdated and dismissive attitude. Research consistently shows that harm reduction strategies, including pill testing, prevent deaths and reduce drug-related harm,” Mr Richters said.
“A study by Monash University highlights that many drug-related deaths at music festivals could have been avoided if such services were available.
“It is particularly alarming that highly dangerous substances, such as nitazenes and synthetic cathinones, are increasingly found in Australia. These drugs can easily be misrepresented as less potent substances, leading to tragic consequences. Pill testing services detect these high-risk substances, enabling users to avoid potentially fatal outcomes.”
The region’s state MP, James Lister, has since defended his party’s decision, saying individuals have to accept the consequences of their actions.
“That pill-testing regime undermined respect for the law, and sent a clear message that taking dangerous illegal substances is OK. It is not OK,” he said last week.
However, Mr Richters said to take an abstinence-only approach was to ignore reality.
“The (Rabbits Eat Lettuce) festival founder, Erik Lamir, rightly points out that drug use at events is a reality. The government must recognise this reality and prioritise harm minimisation over moralistic posturing,” Mr Richters said.
“Harm reduction is not about promoting drug use; it is about protecting lives and reducing the burden on our health system.
“It is time for Queensland to follow the lead of jurisdictions like the ACT, where pill testing has proven to be a pragmatic and effective solution. The safety of our young people should be a bipartisan priority, and I call on the government to reconsider this decision, listen to the evidence, and prioritise the health and wellbeing of our community.
“By ignoring the overwhelming evidence supporting pill testing, the LNP government risks the safety of countless Queenslanders. We need a compassionate, evidence-based approach, not political grandstanding.”
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Originally published as Southern Downs councillor Joel Richters calls out LNP government, MP James Lister over pill testing backflip
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