2024-06-28
pill testing will now become legal in victoria
By Aiv Puglielli, Victorian MLC for North Eastern Metro
Earlier this year I wrote about the need for pill testing in Victoria. Politicians and conservative voices have, for years, dismissed the reality that people have always and will continue to take drugs.
Pill testing is resoundingly supported by experts and decades of international evidence. After years of pressure from the Greens, the progressive crossbench, harm reduction advocates, and the community, Labor has finally shown up to the party on pill testing.
Pill testing is to become legal in Victoria.
What does this mean?
Pill testing will be permanent in Victoria after an implementation trial to test different models. The mobile service will begin this summer and attend 10 festivals and a fixed site will open mid-2025 in Melbourne CBD.
The evidence is clear: when young party-goers have access to pill testing services they’re much less likely to consume their drugs or be at risk of overdose.
The reality is that people in the community will take drugs. We know that young people are going to take drugs. Whether that’s at raves, parties or festivals. And we know that by having access to this service where they can simply be aware of the risks and dosage they’re taking, we can help keep them safe.
Pill testing works. And it saves lives.
It’s excellent news that pill testing is now going to happen. Now it’s crucial we make sure it’s rolled out widely and quickly by the Summer festival period.
Years of campaigning on Pill Testing in Victoria
The Greens have campaigned for pill testing in Victoria for years. To everyone who has been a part of that journey, thank you.
Back in 2016, Victorian Greens MPs and councillors first began our push for pill testing, in response to increasing numbers of overdose deaths at Victorian festivals.
In 2018, Richard Di Natale, Steph Hodgins-May, and Sam Hibbins visited Revolver nightclub to launch a renewed campaign, following the first official Australian trial in Canberra.
In 2019 our Greens MPs Tim Read, Ellen Sandell, Sam Hibbins and Samantha Ratnam introduced the first ever co-sponsored pill testing bill into Victorian Parliament 2019, alongside Fiona Patten of the Reason party .
In 2022, on my arrival in the Victorian Parliament, I continued the fight, taking the message to music festivals, consulting with harm reduction workers, and visiting Canberra to meet with experts at a testing facility.
And earlier this year, we teamed up with the Animal Justice Party and Legalise Cannabis Victoria, to again introduce a new bill to establish pill testing by next summer.
Community support got us here
To everyone who worked tirelessly, campaigning and advocating for this issue over the years, your work has paid off.
Labor had been too afraid to put the safety of Victorians first, even though the majority of Australians supported pill testing, alongside a number of Victorian coroners, and over 70 health organisations.
The Labor Government is now saying they’ll make pill testing permanent in Victoria. And, their plans look a lot like the Greens’ Bill, with mobile testing at festivals and a fixed site trial.
Pill testing is a harm-reduction approach. The announcement is common sense and long overdue. It means treating drug use as a health issue, not a criminal one.
It means protecting young people when they’re most at risk, instead of punishing them.
Victoria is finally catching up to the rest of the world.
And this win is a reminder that pressure works.
The Victorian Greens will have more to share when the festival season ramps up.