Tasmania Latest State To Dismiss Pill Testing At Festivals

Tasmania has rejected pill testing at festivals in the state, despite the Greens’ proposed methods having support from the Police Association.

Police Minister Rene Hidding said they would not provide "quality assurance for drug pushers" when the issue was put forth by Greens health spokesperson Rosalie Woodruff in State Parliament.

“The evidence shows it will keep our young people safe from harmful drugs, and it has the support of the Police Association,” Woodruff said.

The Greens’ initiative would see five pill testing machine and two operators at festivals.

As ABC reports, Police Association president Pat Allen said that while it was not something the force should be responsible for, it “makes a lot of sense” for the health department to oversee testing.

“It makes sense to anyone in this day and age that that should done, at least try and protect them that way," Allen said.

"If we can't be there and do the policing role, some other department could actually take care of that, if they wanted to.

"Members do understand that we can't be everywhere and we can't control what people do all the time or control their want to take this stuff."

At Falls Festival Marion Bar in December, three punters were charged for drug-related offences with two others rushed to hospital due to drug or alcohol-related issues.

Tasmania’s stance on pill testing follows that of NSW – a position that Greens leader Richard Di Natale has condemned the Government for, labelling it a “silly, failed approach” back in April.