Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens' Health spokesperson
The ACT Government’s decision to allow free pill testing at the Spilt Milk festival will save lives. We congratulate the ACT for their courage and common sense.
Police Minister, Rene Hidding, has previously refused to consider pill testing at Tasmanian festivals. We should be taking a leaf from the ACT’s book as a way of protecting young people from harm.
The Liberals’ comments around pill testing demonstrates they fundamentally misunderstand safe drug policy. Their ideological statements are against good health policy, parents' concerns and now the policy of the ACT Government.
Young people have always indulged in risky behaviour, and always will. The law and order approach to drugs doesn't work, and it won’t stop festival overdoses or deaths.
Governments should do everything possible to keep young people safe. Festival pill testing will go a long way to doing that.
The ACT Government understands their role in keeping young people safe and has acted. It’s time Tasmania does the same.