Thursday, 19 February 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (12:28): I am pleased to update the house on how our pill-testing trial is continuing to reduce drug harm this summer. Over the 2025–‍26 festival season, the mobile service has so far attended Spilt Milk in Ballarat, Dangerous Goods 6XXL in Footscray and Victoria’s Pride Street Party in Collingwood. Across these three events more than 350 samples have been tested and 240 people engaged in harm reduction conversations. One general notification was issued directly to the community following detection of dipentylone sold as MDMA. But of course Victorians can also access life-saving advice through the Victorian pill-testing service fixed site in Fitzroy, which has expanded its hours of operation to meet high demand over the holiday and festival season. Since opening in August last year more than 2000 samples have been tested and more than a thousand people engaged in harm-reduction conversations at the fixed site. Importantly, for more than 40 per cent of people, this was the first time they had had a conversation with a health professional about their drug use. The results are clear: this service is saving lives, providing important health advice and delivering critical drug-monitoring data. In an increasingly volatile and unpredictable drug market, this information has never been more important. Substance use is a reality in our society, and we have a choice about how we respond. While some in this place oppose this life-saving initiative, our government is not a government that will deny young people the critical health information they need to make safer choices. We are proud to lead with a health-led harm reduction approach because Victorians deserve support that is compassionate, respectful and informed by the evidence.