Ms Berejiklian again ruled out any proposed pill-testing trials, saying instead that she hoped people were starting to heed a ‘just say no’ message. Last week the Australian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists added their support for pill-testing trials, joining the Australian Medical Association, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, and RACGP president…

The issue is created by 30 years of failed drugs policy, and we’re still waiting for governments to catch up,” Mr Harvey told ABC radio’s Jon Faine. “We are the people trying to do our best to meet these challenges and we are waiting for governments and other organisations to get on board with this rather than continuing the same…

Will pill testing stop drug deaths at music festivals? According to similar measures taken in Europe, it very well might. But even if it doesn’t, surely we have to try. […]

Daley said his position on pill testing had not changed, but that he was open to hearing evidence it worked, pointing to injecting rooms being established after the historic 1999 drug summit convened by former Premier Bob Carr.”People were furiously opposed to that, but no one could say now that it didn’t work,” Daley said. […]

A debate on whether criminalising people who use cannabis protects against mental ill health did not take place because no one agreed to argue that current UK law protects the health of people who take the drug. […]

In a letter sent to NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday, Rattenbury cited advice from prominent pill-testing advocate Alex Wodak that the ACT’s support for pill testing could encourage dealers to offload lower-quality drugs in NSW. “We also wish to bring to your attention an alarming potential unintended consequence for NSW if the ACT government continues with the successful pill-testing trial at subsequent…

At a pill testing demonstration on Tuesday, president of Harm Reduction Australia Gino Vumbaca said he understood politicians were nervous about pill testing, but the evidence showed it reduced harm. “I understand it’s difficult for a lot of MPs, but really, we can’t continue to allow what is happening to continue,” he said. […]

In a crowded room in Sydney, pill testing advocates unveiled the machine used to analyse drugs and explained patiently how their process would work to stop overdoses and save lives. The group outlined how pill testing schemes, far from giving a so-called “green light” to potential drug users, could be a powerful tool in discouraging drug use, with trained health…

Following several recent deaths from illicit drug use at festivals, the  Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has said that pill testing and drug checking services should be trialled in Australia. PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman says PSA believes further pill testing trials should be conducted at music festivals and other environments where illicit drug use occurs. […]

Victoria’s diverse Upper House crossbench is demanding the Andrews Government undertake a trial of pill testing, and is vowing to make the issue a key matter in the Parliament. […]