NSW premier stands firm against pill tests

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says a second pill testing trial at Canberra's Groovin the Moo festival showed no evidence it can save lives.

pill testing machine

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian remains resolute in her opposition to pill testing. (AAP)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian remains unconvinced pill testing will save lives after a second trial at a Canberra music festival.

Advocates declared the program at Sunday's Groovin the Moo an overwhelming success after dangerous substances were detected and binned by patrons once alerted.

The trial - which followed an Australian-first pilot in 2018 - tested 171 samples from 234 participants.

But Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday stood firm in her opposition.

"They haven't shown there's any evidence yet," she told reporters in Sydney.

"My position on pill testing remains firm. I don't think it works, I don't think the evidence is there and I don't support it."

Ms Berejiklian has given the green light for a government-commissioned inquiry into the drug ice to broaden its scope and look at other issues including pill testing.

But it appears the premier would be unlikely to reconsider her position should the inquiry recommend a trial.

"Of course I'll read it if they put it up but I'm not convinced they'll find evidence because there's no such evidence anywhere," she said.


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Source: AAP


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