Pill-Testing A Possibility At Festivals

Despite strong opposition from the New South Wales government and police, pill-testing of drugs could begin at Australian festivals later this year.

Drug expert Dr. David Caldicott and Dr. Alex Wodak, president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, mooted the idea after a horrendous summer of drug deaths and overdoses.

The pair initially hoped to begin in NSW, but faced objections that it would undermine moves by authorities. Police minister Troy Grant claimed such tests were against the law and that drug experts could be arrested, and even charged with manslaughter if a tested pill caused a fatality.

However, Caldicott says tests could begin in other states, most likely Victoria, where 37,000 signed a petition for testing.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald, “We’ve got the funding. Meetings with law enforcement have been face to face and in more than one jurisdiction outside of NSW. There are very senior police supporting us currently. There are very senior politicians supporting us currently. We are now working out how we can have a system in place for the forthcoming (summer) festival season.”