Push for pill-testing at Canberra festival

Image: Violent Soho will perform at Spilt Milk

Pill-testing advocates as Will Tregonning of Unharm Australia and Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation President Alex Wodak are reiterating their calls for pill-testing to be approved for this weekend’s Spilt Milk festival in Canberra.

This follows reports this month that thousands of $10 pill-testing kits would be handed out for free at NSW festivals over this summer. Under law, such kits can be legally made, possessed and distributed.

Canberra became the flashpoint for pill testing after NSW authorities proved negative to the idea. Advocates maintain that the trials should begin at smaller events before being rolled out to largest festivals in other states. Earlier this year, Tregonning announced that ACT trials would be held at either Spilt Milk or Groovin’ The Moo.

The music, food and arts Spilt Milk is held December 3 at Commonwealth Park, with a bill including Flume, Violent Soho, Peking Duk, Gangs of Youth, Hermitude, Sticky Fingers and Allday.

"Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of ecstasy consumption in the world and it seems to be one of the most contaminated," Tregonning warned in The Canberra Times.

The ACT Government and the Opposition have stood against pill-testing The Greens, who ran the issue as part of its platform at October’s ACT elections, continues to advocate for their acceptance.

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury reveals, "I wrote to (Chief Minister) Andrew Barr on November 9 asking him to look into pill testing as a matter of urgency. I am disappointed we were not able to use this opportunity this year.

"For a pill-testing trial to be successful, it will require the co-operation of health experts, police, government, festival organisers and the broader community."

A survey by triple j’s current affairs program Hack found that 80% of those who use drugs would use the tests.

ACT Police will be targeting drug use at the festival. Spilt Milk promoters have maintained a “no comment” policy over the trials.