VIC Premier to take pill testing proposal to cabinet

Premier Jacinto Allen says the Government is set to consider advice from the health department on the issue of pill testing. And that could potentially lead to the introduction of pill testing trial here in Victoria, potentially one model of the trial in Canberra that has been extended multiple Times Now with experts they're saying has successfully seen a change in behaviour in drug users at music festivals there, and that's a model that's already been replicated up in Queensland. Premier Jacinta Allen, speaking at a press conference yesterday, said it would ultimately be a matter for her cabinet colleagues. No timeline attached to that at this stage, but the cabinet is due to meet here at Parliament House today to discuss a whole range of issues. Premier to center Allens stance on the matter is the much softer one than her predecessor. Daniel Andrews categorically ruled out pill testing under his leadership, despite medical experts and multiple state coroners calling on the government to introduce pill testing as a way to reduce drug related harm and potentially save lives. At the press conference yesterday, Premier Alan said she doesn't want to see a repeat of the horror situation we saw this summer. There's a spike in overdoses. Nine people at one music festival taken to hospital with drug related overdoses, eight of them requiring intubation and then just a week later another two people taken to hospital following suspected drug use. Premier Allen saying it's a horror situation for those people and their parents to go through and she wants to do everything she can to stop that from happening again. Of course, it's not an issue without its opponents. The state opposition here in Victoria has long been opposed to the idea of pill testing. They say they'd rather see the government introduce a stronger drug alert system when there are harmful substances circulating within the state.