Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Drug harm reduction

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:57): (564) My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. We saw reports over the weekend that Labor is preparing to unwind its previous opposition to the service of pill testing, also known as drug checking, something which, as we all know, was long opposed by former Premier Daniel Andrews. We have heard that the new Premier supports a year-long pill-testing trial and that a proposal is in fact headed to cabinet. There should be no more delays from Labor in introducing this service that will help keep people safe. It is long overdue. We must see the cabinet convinced that the introduction of pill testing will save lives. Too much is at stake. Will the plan that has been referred to in these reports include a fixed-site service for detailed analysis for the broader community year round?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (13:57): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question and his strong interest in these issues. We have had many conversations about the importance of harm minimisation when it comes to drug and alcohol services right across the state. Look, the reality is there are a lot of things that are in the media, but the fact is, and what is guiding the government right now is, we saw a lot of harm last summer during the festival season, where we saw a number of critical emergencies, overdoses and, sadly, fatalities associated with a number of different substances but also, it must be said, the heat conditions in parts of the state during the festival season last summer. Of course the government – and I think we have been on the record, both the Premier and me, in regard to these matters – have sought advice from our department about the best way forward in terms of future government decisions in this area. I am waiting for that advice, and once I receive that advice the government will give it careful consideration.

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:59): The moment we are in right now, particularly as we are about to go into a parliamentary sitting break, needs to be a moment where we see a line drawn in the sand – that this is the moment to get on with pill testing. Those who reportedly support it within the government need to convince their cabinet colleagues that now is the time. Join the list of other states and territories who have implemented this service and get on with the work of protecting people. The expert advice and the evidence are endless. It works. It is up and running in the ACT, in Queensland and even now in New South Wales through their injecting room site. Every summer, as the minister said, we see more harm and the risk of more deaths. There is no reason Labor cannot move forward with this right now. Will drug checking be available to Victorians in time for the summer festival season to save lives?

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:00): Whilst I can appreciate the desire on the part of a number of people in the chamber to have answers to these questions, I have been pretty clear that we are awaiting the expert advice, and it will be the expert advice that the government takes into consideration when it considers it carefully. Government decisions are part of a process, as members would well know, and we are simply not at that point today. We will wait for the expert health advice, which is what we have sought.