Page 406 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 2019
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MR PARTON: Minister, has the government absolutely ruled out future residential development in west Tuggeranong and Kowen Forest?
MS BERRY: I refer the member to my first answer. There was significant feedback from the community, as well as analysis that was done by the government, that, at this time, there are no plans for development in those areas.
Drugs—pill testing
MS ORR: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, why is the ACT government supporting pill testing at the Groovin the Moo festival?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Orr for the question. The government is determined to reduce the negative health and social consequences associated with the use of drugs, for the user, for their families and for the wider community. Drugs are dangerous and illegal. Our clear message is that people should not take them. But we recognise that people do take drugs, and they will continue to, no matter what their parents or the government say. The government is going to do as much as it can to stop the senseless loss of life of our young people and the devastation caused to too many families by one stupid mistake.
Following the work of Minister Fitzharris to assess the proposal, the government has decided to support a further pill testing trial at the upcoming Groovin the Moo music festival in April. The trial will be run by Pill Testing Australia. We were the first jurisdiction to run a pill testing trial in Australia, at the same festival last year, with dozens of potentially lethal pills discarded following testing. This can save lives on the day and give people another opportunity to make the right decision.
This is the last line of defence. We recognise that it is not a silver bullet, but it is one more important step to protect Canberrans. We will not be jeopardising their lives to make a political point. This is a sensible, structured and thoroughly assessed testing process. The data that came out of the first pilot was incredibly informative for our health and emergency services in the event that someone does fall ill at one of these festivals.
MS ORR: Chief Minister, what other harm minimisation strategies is the government pursuing?
MR BARR: The government’s drug strategy action plan outlines 43 actions to tackle harms from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The action plan is based on three pillars of harm minimisation: demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. We are willing to explore and implement innovative ways to save lives and we are willing to engage in a political debate, particularly with those opposite, if it means that more people do not take drugs or are able to get healthy outside of the criminal justice system.
To prevent and reduce fatal and near fatal overdoses, including those associated with pharmaceuticals, we plan to address and expand access to Naloxone and access to opioid maintenance treatment. We are investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of
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