'Just Test The Pills': Victorian Greens Push For Drug Reform By 2020

The Victorian Greens are urging the premier to support a new push for the introduction of pill testing in the state.

Unveiling plans to introduce legislation, first flagged in February, for a two-year trial, if the bill is successful, Victoria could have pill testing as early as next year. 

The policy includes both a mobile pill testing facility and a fixed-site laboratory for more detailed analysis with both facilities licensed for two years with the potential for a four-year extension following review. The data collected would allow health alerts to be issued in the instance of lethal drugs.

The aim of the pilot program is to "reduce hospital and paramedic attendances, reduce drug overdoses and save lives".

The bill is named Daniel’s Bill for Daniel Buccianti who died from a drug overdose at Rainbow Serpent Festival seven years ago. 

“No parent should have to endure what I went through. But in the last 12 months, at least five other families have lost their child from drug overdoses," Daniel's mother, Adriana Buccianti, now a pill testing advocate and drug reform campaigner, said.

“When Daniel died I made a commitment that I would fight for pill testing and for the legislation to be called Daniel’s Bill. I’m thankful that is now a reality and I plead with [Victorian premier] Daniel Andrews to support it so it becomes law.”

Drug law reform spokesperson for the Victorian Greens and Greens MP for Brunswick, Dr Tim Read, stressed that the culture of drug use in Australia had to change. 

“We need to change the culture of drug use in Australia, and the first step is treating drug use as a health issue," he said.

“There is over 20 years of evidence that shows pill testing reduces overdoses and protects people from the harm of illicit drug use.

“We know that most people choose to throw out their drugs when informed that they contain harmful substances.

“Prohibition is a policy of rejection and of saying we don’t care about drug users. Pill testing shows we take their health seriously.

"We must acknowledge the current approach is resulting in unintended consequences and instead choose policies that have worked elsewhere. It’s time to get over the stigma and just test the pills.”

Daniel’s Bill will be debated early next year. Find out more details about the Greens' proposal, follow the link here.

Elsewhere in the country, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian refused to change her stance on pill testing earlier in the year despite positive results from the latest trial at Groovin The Moo festival in Canberra.

This year's Groovin The Moo trial saw 230 punters take part in the testing, with 171 samples tested and of that, seven samples were found to be deadly.

CEO of Ted Noffs Foundation, Matt Noffs, told The Music at the time that plans were in motion for pill testing to be discussed for Queensland.

"All in all, the second pilot has shown that this needs to be available at every Australian festival," he said.