What’s Going On With QLD Pill Testing?

It has been a big week for the newly elected Premier of Queensland, LNP leader David Crisafulli, who may - or may not? - ban pill testing across the state.

Under the previous Labor government, pill testing was a priority, with the first ever state-operated pill testing clinic at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival in March - which was deemed a success. They later opened two permanent clinics in Bowen Hills and on the Gold Coast, making QLD the first state to do so.

But, more importantly, in July, the Labor government announced an $80,000 package to provide a pop-up pill testing clinic at this year’s Schoolies in Surfers Paradise.

Now, that clinic may be under threat, with the LNP previously promising to scrap all pill testing initiatives.

According to deputy opposition leader Jarrod Bleijie prior to the election, the Schoolies clinic “wouldn’t happen” if the LNP were elected to power.

 “The LNP does not support the soft on drug approach by the Labor party in Queensland.”

But there may be a policy backflip in progress, with Crisafulli reluctant to answer questions on the ban recently.

“We said we don't support pill testing, and I'm not walking away from that, but the question was asked about Schoolies which is in three weeks' time,” Crisafulli said in a press conference, according to ABC. “We're not talking about in the future, I'm talking about this event here and I've asked for some advice. I want to take some advice on that and I'm going to do that in a deliberate way.”

However, former LNP leader and Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek recently doubled down on his party's pre-election vow to scrap testing, saying on Monday that pill testing sends the wrong message to young people .

“I know this is a very complex issue. Schoolies is such a big part of my electorate," Langbroek told the ABC. "I believe it sends the message that doing some sort of drugs is okay and I don't believe doing drugs is okay at all." 

Schoolies is set to run in Surfers Paradise from November 16 to December 8.

This news comes in stark contrast to Victoria’s recent legislation, which legalised mobile pill testing on Wednesday.

According to Victorian Greens MP Aiv Puglielli, “Starting this summer, there will be 10 mobile testing sites at festivals across the state and a fixed testing site in Melbourne close to nightlife hot spots.”