20 November 2024
The South Australian Government should follow the Gold Coast’s lead and make pill testing available at Schoolies this weekend, say the SA Greens.
“While other places around Australia are showing leadership in this area, South Australia is lagging behind,” said Greens Health Spokesperson, Robert Simms MLC.
“The State Government should be making pop up pill testing available at events like Schoolies over the summer period. The evidence is clear - we know that analysing and testing drugs in this way saves lives. Minimising the risks to young people must be the Government’s number one priority, and pill testing is consistent with a harm minimisation approach to drugs. It’s a concept that has broad support across the community, backed by the Australian Medical Association and more than 60 per cent of Australians, according to research from The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.”
“The Greens will continue to advocate for South Australia to establish a fixed-site pill testing centre and mobile testing stations for key events like music festivals and Schoolies. At the very least the Government should be looking at other jurisdictions and rolling out similar trials in our state, rather than continuing to bury their heads in the sand.”
Pill testing is legal in Queensland and the ACT, and Queensland is starting trials this summer.