VIC Premier seeking advice on whether to introduce pill testing in the state
Premier Jacinta Allan says she is seeking advice on whether pill testing should be introduced in Victoria, in a shift in policy from the government. Pressure has been mounting on the state to do more to stop drug related harm after 11 overdoses at music festivals in Melbourne this month.
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00:00 Closing basket after basket at the unveiling of a new stadium.
00:07 The Premier was leaving the door open for pill testing.
00:11 We are waiting for the further advice from the Department of Health on the investigation that they're undertaking
00:18 and I think that's just the responsible thing to do.
00:21 That investigation looked at drug overdoses which left eight people in a coma
00:26 at Melbourne's Hard Mission Festival earlier this month.
00:29 It found the hospitalisations were caused by a combination of MDMA, extreme heat and physical exertion.
00:36 But Jacinta Allen says she hasn't been briefed on those findings yet.
00:40 Let us get that advice and we will provide further information and updates accordingly.
00:45 It's not enough to say that she's waiting on a report, a report that was concluded last week.
00:50 There were 64 drug-related deaths at music festivals across Australia in the past 20 years.
00:56 Most were from MDMA, according to a new study by Monash University.
01:01 Its author says pill testing is a highly effective way to reduce drug overdoses.
01:07 One in three will dispose of the drugs if they're not what they anticipated using.
01:12 Four Victorian coroners have recommended a pill testing service similar to trials in the ACT and Queensland.
01:19 The timing of this is crucial.
01:21 Every day that we delay access to pill testing in the state of Victoria is another day that we could see preventable loss of life.
01:27 We have no current plans to change the policy setting.
01:31 The Victorian Government has held a long-standing position against pill testing
01:35 with the former Premier Daniel Andrews vowing it would never be introduced under his leadership.
01:40 But today's language from Jacinta Allen shows a shift in the Government's tone,
01:45 which also includes considering plans for a real-time drug alert system at festivals.
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