Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Pill testing

Aiv PUGLIELLI, Ingrid STITT
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Pill testing

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:10): (822) My question today is to the Minister for Mental Health, and it relates to the fixed-site pill-testing service that many in the community are eagerly awaiting; this is for the detailed analysis of presented substances year round. This is a service that will save lives. Minister –

Ingrid Stitt: On a point of order, President, I am having a lot of trouble hearing Mr Puglielli, sorry.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, so am I. I am not sure if the mics are okay. Could you start from the start, if that is okay.

Aiv PUGLIELLI: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. It relates to the fixed-site pill-testing service. As I have indicated, many in the community are eagerly awaiting that service being operational; this is for detailed analysis of presented substances year round. This is a service that will save lives, so I ask: are you able to inform the chamber if the location for this service has been confirmed and which local government area we can expect it to operate in?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:11): I thank the member for that question, which I did hear the second time. It is an important issue, and the simple answer is no.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:11): Just taking into account the minister’s answer, this is a service that was promised to be open by mid 2025. If we are not able to be updated as to whether a location has been confirmed for said service, Minister, I ask: are we on track to see a fixed-site service open by midyear as promised?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:11): Thank you for your concern about our important program. Pill testing is an incredibly important service right across the community, whether that is at a mobile site at a festival or at the fixed site, which we are in the process of identifying a suitable location for. The reason I gave you a one-word answer – no – is because your question was have we chosen a location, and you asked me what LGA it was in. The answer is no because we are in the process of identifying a suitable location. We have given the broad criteria, and my department is working through what the options are. I will have more to say when we have selected a suitable site, but we are absolutely on track to deliver this important service by midyear.

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