The minor party have announced an election policy for the federal expansion of pill testing. Follow today’s news live
The Greens’s new election policy for a federal expansion of pill testing would involve the creation of a new drug testing agency.
The agency, housed within the federal department of health and aged care, would coordinate and run drug testing sites in capital cities and regional hubs as well as providing free testing services at Australian music festivals.
At the moment the biggest danger facing young people using drugs at festivals isn’t the substance itself but a failure of government policy that doesn’t allow people to be able to check what is in that drug and access education and medical services when needed.
We have a system designed to criminalise and stigmatise people who take drugs in our community which has led to tragic outcomes. It is time we listen to the community and the experts and implement common sense approaches to minimise harm and risk.
