Dark Mofo director Leigh Carmichael will push Government for a pill testing trial

The Greens have lashed Labor for its “breathtaking display of wilful denial” over pill testing as Dark Mofo pushes for a trial that could save lives.

Dark Mofo’s director is one Tasmanian pushing for pill testing. Picture: Jarrad Seng

GREENS leader Cassy O’Connor has lashed the Opposition for its “breathtaking display of wilful denial” after Labor leader Rebecca White said she wanted to see more evidence to support pill testing.

The harm-minimisation approach has been a hot topic ahead of Tasmania’s festival season and since the drug-related deaths of five people at Australian music festivals from September to January.

Labor leader Rebecca White.

Ms White on Monday admitted her party had an “open mind” about pill testing but said she still wanted to see further evidence to support the potentially lifesaving approach.

“I’m personally not convinced there’s sufficient enough evidence that it will make any improvement in the health outcomes of people,” she said.

“I’m keen to see more trials … I don’t want to see any young person who takes a drug not come home to their families.”

Canberra music festival Groovin the Moo was the first and only time a pill testing trial has been run successfully in Australia, when doctors and scientists organised the tent in 2018.

Ms White said one trial wasn’t enough, because there was still “some evidence we need to see”.

“I don’t think there’s been a thorough evaluation of whether (Groovin the Moo) has been effective or not,” she told ABC Radio.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has lashed out at Labor leader Rebecca White. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Ms O’Connor said Tasmanians were left wondering if Labor “stands for anything in 2019”.

“Medical professionals and drug experts who were pleased with Labor’s policy on pill testing at festivals, will be wondering the same thing after Rebecca White told a statewide radio audience today she doesn’t personally support the Labor Party policy to introduce pill testing,” she said.

“In a breathtaking display of wilful denial, Ms White is ignoring the evidence that pill testing saves lives and apparently won’t even support a trial to gather evidence at the local level.”

Speaker and Liberal member Sue Hickey has previously said she would cross the floor to support pill testing. On Mnday Ms Hickey called for a conscious vote on pill testing, calling it a “matter of life and death”.

Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael, left, with CEO the of Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania Alison Lai and Harm Reduction Australia president Gino Vumbaca are all calling for pill testing. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Pressure is mounting from outside of parliament with Mona’s influential creative director Leigh Carmichael doubling down on his support for pill testing.

Dark Mofo is less than three months away, prompting Mr Carmichael to again call for a trial. He said the festival would push “as hard as we can” to get the Government to support pill testing at the popular festival.

“We feel we have an obligation to reduce harm … we might save one life or we might save three or four lives,” he said.