Re-evaluation of pill testing rejected by NSW government minister

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A New South Wales government official has anticipated a coroner’s report into reported passings at the state’s music events by saying he wouldn’t acknowledge pill-testing assessments. 

These drug testings won’t eliminate passings of revellers at concerts, NSW frontbencher Andrew Constance says. 

NSW frontbencher Andrew Constance says.pill testing won’t halt drug deaths at music festivals and other events. (AAP)

Coroner Harriet Grahame has been regulating an examination into the deaths of six young attendees at music festivals between 2017 of December and 2019 of January, which may prompt suggestions for pill testing in New South Wales. 

While Ms Grahame’s conclusions won’t be made public until 8th of November, The Daily Telegraph revealed 40 draft suggestions have just been sent to NSW government divisions and authorities. 

A pill-testing exhibition was held at Splendor in the Grass in Byron Bay last July, yet Mr Constance said none could ensure the security of illegal substances. 

“If the pure form of the drug is tested and found not to be laced and people still take it, they can still lose their life,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is young people at these festivals … dehydrated, overdosing, and they’re losing their lives. So I don’t see pill testing as the answer.”

A trial pill test was held at the Splendour in the Grass event in northern NSW earlier this year. (AAP)

Mr Constance said training and consciousness regarding the threats of illegal medications was rather the best course to well being. 

Co-NSW frontbencher Sarah Mitchell recommended pill testing could illicit extra security issues. 

“Pill testing might lead people to have a false sense of security when it comes to using drugs and it’s risky,” Ms Mitchell told reporters.

Yet, NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said in an announcement the proposals “seem to affirm that the administration’s zero resistance system is doing nothing to spare lives”. 

“No government in the world has been able to stop people taking drugs,” she said.

“More and more countries are recognising that the war on drugs has been a colossal failure and are adopting harm reduction measures and saving lives.”

Prior, Labor government official Tanya Plibersek indicated she could stay objective to the probability of pill testing at concerts. 

Ms Pilbersek revealed activities, for example, the therapeutically administered infusing centre in Sydney’s King Cross, where pill popper can infuse and get restorative assistance away from the eyes of authorities, helped keep individuals alive. 

“And that has definitely saved lives. And it has worked cooperatively with the police and with the local community,” she said.

Yet, the Sydney Labor MP likewise emphasized her help for police endeavors to get rid of drug dealing and stated: “Something that is made in a bikie’s bathroom isn’t probably going to be beneficial for you”. 

Central government frontbencher and second-in-command National leader Bridget McKenzie told the Today Show she was not in favor of making exemptions for illicit drug intake. 

“There is a reason drugs are illegal, it is because they do you great harm,” she said.

Clearly this is an issue for the coroner and the New South Wales government, however we can’t – my own conviction is we can’t have venues where the law doesn’t have any significant bearing.”


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