Drug harm reduction
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:22): (356) My question today is to the Premier, via the Leader of the Government. Earlier today there was a gathering in this building of people from health services, from unions and from drug harm reduction organisations who came together to support a very generous offer from Harm Reduction Australia and Pill Testing Australia to run a free pill-testing trial at a Victorian event of your choice. It is a very generous offer – literally free. They cover the insurance. We know from other jurisdictions like Canberra that this will save lives. Will you take up this offer?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:23): I will pass the question on to the Premier.
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:23): Thank you, Minister. Last week on the ABC one of your federal counterparts, the federal health minister Mark Butler, publicly stated that there is evidence to support the life-saving benefits of pill testing. I have said before in this place – he is right – that there is a lot of evidence that shows just how beneficial pill testing as a service is to, for example, young people who may choose to take drugs. Rather than taking commentary about it being a green light to drug use, in fact, as was stated in this building today, if anything, it becomes a red or amber light because there is a cohort who will receive information about what they are about to take – potentially something they were not expecting or potentially something that is contaminated – and then choose not to take that substance, countering that potential fear-based narrative that exists elsewhere in the community. Will this government also acknowledge the benefits of pill testing and introduce it here in Victoria?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:24): I am sure that we can add that to the substantive question.