2 September, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Attorney-General on the topic of pill testing.
Leave granted.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Today, the New South Wales government announced the introduction of a permanent pill-testing service that will be made available at music festivals, following a successful trial phase. The University of Sydney, I understand, has found that drug-checking services were associated with reduced rates of drug-related hospital presentations. In fact, there were 2.3 hospital presentations per festival day during the trial period, compared to an average of 3.6 over the previous two years. My question to the Attorney-General, therefore, is: when will the Malinauskas government listen to health professionals and follow the lead of New South Wales and other states in introducing pill testing?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Arts, Special Minister of State) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question and for directing it to myself as Attorney-General. This is actually a matter for the Minister for Health; it falls under the health portfolio areas. I know that the previous Minister for Health, the member for Kaurna, the Hon. Chris Picton, has been asked this question a number of times and has said that as a government we do not have a policy in relation to pill testing.