Beyond The Valley Chosen To Launch Vic Government's Pill Testing Trial
"This is not a trial to decide if Victoria will implement pill testing. It’s a trial to understand how to implement it."
Beyond The Valley (Credit: Jordan Munns)
As the Victorian Premier’s office says, “pill testing saves lives”, and now the Vic Government’s pill testing implementation trial is set to launch at Beyond The Valley.
The festival – which runs from December 28th through January 1st at Hesse’s Barunah Plains Homestead – has been chosen as the first of ten festival events which will play host to the pill testing trial over the summer.
The news comes following last month’s announcement that Victoria has officially become the first state to enshrine pill testing into law thanks to The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024.
While the new law does not legalise illicit drugs, it does however allow for mobile and fixed pill testing throughout the state, and means that those who use and operate such services are protected by law.
“No drug is ever truly safe, but with this new legislation, Victorians can be better informed about their drug use,” said Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt in a statement.
“We have made it clear since announcing this trial – these changes don’t make drugs legal, but by having pill testing services in place, we can help to keep more Victorians safe during busy summer festival seasons.”
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With the trial officially launching next month, the pill testing service will be available to the estimated 35,000 festivalgoers who attend Beyond The Valley across the four days. As per a statement from the Victorian Premier’s office, it is the largest-ever event in Australia to provide access to pill testing.
The confidential service will utilise "world-leading technology used will be able to test the make-up of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals, or liquids and identify harmful chemicals that can lead to death".
Staffed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, they will not only test substances but also provide confidential health information which aims to ensure those in attendance make better, safer decisions.
“This is a simple and common-sense way to save lives,” said Premier Jacinta Allan in a statement. “Let’s be clear: no drug is safe, but people deserve to know if that one pill will kill.”
“Honest, open, health-focused conversations and advice is how we reduce drug harm and help Victorians make safer, more informed decisions,” added Stitt.
While a fixed pill testing site is set to be established and opened by mid-2025 in inner Melbourne “close to nightlife and public transport”, a statement asserts that, “this is not a trial to decide if Victoria will implement pill testing. It’s a trial to understand how to implement it.”
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
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