Festival’s pill testing petition

THE north’s major music festival has joined the push for the Government to allow pill testing trials at Tasmanian events with a petition to parliament.

Party in the Paddock founder Jesse Higgs’ e-petition was posted on the Parliament of Tasmania website on Thursday and will be tabled in Parliament by the Tasmanian Greens. Mr Higgs said festival organisers did not condone the use of illegal substances at its events, but could not ignore the fact young people around Australia were using them.

“Pill testing is not a silver bullet, but it’s a proven and positive way to help reduce this kind of tragedy,” he said.

“The more education that we can bring to this health issue at our festival, the better.”

The Government has maintained a “strong position” on the issue of pill testing, saying no level of drug taking was safe and that people should not take “illegal drugs”.

The debate around pill testing was reignited this month after NSW Coroner Harriet Grahame recommended drugs be decriminalised and pills tested at festivals to save lives.

Her calls for sweeping reforms followed an inquest into the deaths of six young festival attendees at New South Wales events over two summers.

Ms Grahame said punitive policing tactics increased the risk of drug deaths.

Mr Higgs said the inquest findings showed testing should have a place at music festivals this summer.

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said she was proud to sponsor PITP’s petition.

“This is critically important in the lead-up to the summer festival season,” she said.

“We applaud the organisers of Party in the Paddock who are championing the call for pill testing in Tasmania.”

Dr Woodruff said given the NSW Coronial findings, “the Hodgman Government’s continued opposition to pill testing is now untenable”. She said Pill Testing Australia’s trials at Groovin’ the Moo – supported by the ACT government – saw reduced harm and drug use, and provided critical health advice to festival goers.

The New South Wales Liberal Government and Victorian Labor Government both oppose pill testing at festivals.

The petition will close on May 14, 2020.