It has been talked about for the last 12 months, and finally, the NSW Government will commence a music festival-based pill testing trial in early 2025 to reduce risks and harms associated with illicit drug use.

Illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW. The NSW Government wanted to reiterate to the public that there will always be risks involved when consuming these substances, and this announcement is not an endorsement of illicit drug use. 

However, the trial will help people make safer choices, will ensure they can speak to a health professional, and could save lives.

The trial, which is free and anonymous, will allow festival goers to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to qualified health staff to test for purity, potency and adulterants.   

The amnesty provided as part of this trial is strictly limited to people seeking to check drugs for their own personal use, and it will remain an offence to possess illicit drugs at any event where pill testing is provided. 

The strong efforts of police in targeting drug suppliers will in no way be changed by this trial, and these services will not be made available to people seeking to supply drugs to others. 

The trial will go for 12 months and it will cost just over $1 million to roll out the service within festival grounds. 

The trial comes after the Government’s Drug Summit concluded in early December. The Drug Summit co-chairs provided interim advice recommending a trial of music festival-based pill testing, given the fast-approaching summer festival season. 

Throughout the trial, peer workers will be available to provide harm reduction advice to help people make informed decisions.

NSW Health and NSW Police will work together to safely and effectively implement the trial.

Information from the trial will be integrated into existing drug-harm surveillance to improve the reach and speed by which drug warnings are issued to the community.

NSW Health will consult with the music festival industry and harm reduction organisations to select events to include in the trial. The trial will also be independently evaluated.

Last month, the NSW Government announced the rollout of $265 million in funding for drug treatment and support services across the state, including residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management; day rehabilitation and counselling; and community-based case management.

More information on the public drug warnings issued by NSW Health can be found at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aod/public-drug-alerts

Premier Chris Minns said, “I want to stress that this is a trial, and we be guided by the evidence we are presented.

“The trial has a clear purpose – to reduce harm and save lives.

“No parent wants to be given the news that something has happened their child at a music festival, and that they are now in an emergency department or worse.

“I strongly encourage parents to talk to their kids to remind them there is no safe consumption level of drug use.

“I also want to be clear that taking illicit drugs remains illegal. This trial does not change police powers, and if you commit a crime, you may be charged and prosecuted.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “With music festival season upon us, I asked the co-chairs to provide interim advice to government ahead of their final report from the summit due early next year.

“Based on this advice, which reflects the diverse range of views of experts, frontline workers and people with lived experience, we will embark on a limited trial of pill testing based at music festivals.

“As I’ve always said, there are no silver bullets here but if there are any further steps we can take to keep young people safe this festival season we'll listen to the experts and the evidence.

“I’ve always said that we would evaluate areas for reform carefully, diligently and pragmatically – and that’s what this trial is all about.

“These are complex issues and we will be guided by that which delivers in the best interests of the health of the community.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said, “Make no mistake - illicit drugs are illegal and harmful.

“This 12-month trial focuses on harm minimisation for individuals considering the personal use of illegal drugs. Drug supply remains a serious offence and poses a significant risk to the community.

“Police will not change their approach to drug suppliers at these trial sites. Anyone attempting to supply drugs can expect to be targeted by a police operation and brought before the courts.”