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VI C TORIA

TR I PPI N G O N S TE P S O F TH E WA R O N D RU G S I S POLICE SAY “ DANCE
PAR LIAME NT H O U S E- A LO S I N G BAT TLE PART Y PILL-TE S TE R S
L S D PROTE S T A R R E S T T H E AG E-J U LY 9 2 0 16 RISK ARRE ST”

B E N JAMIN P R E I S S J U LY 1 2 2 0 16
In April 2016 Greg Kasarik was, News last week that drug users are
in his words, finally arrested on rejecting the new batch of syringes in Organisers of proposed pill-testing
the steps of Victoria’s Parliament Victoria’s needle exchange programs at Victorian events risk prosecution
House for possession of LSD for has caused alarm among health if they proceed with plans for a trial,
spiritual purposes. This hadn’t been workers and underscores the impor- police have warned. New internal
the first time Greg had given tance of a proven, harm-reduction- legal advice from Victoria Police has
members of the house advance approach to drugs. indicated that people conducting
notice of his intention to stand pill-testing to determine the make-
on the steps of Parliament House Workers in the needle exchange up of illicit substances could face
and publicly take a tab of acid. He programs have called on the Victorian criminal charges.
was there to exercise his right to government to urgently examine
practice his beliefs in public and claims of serious problems with the In Australia, campaigners for the
celebrate the religious and spiritual new syringes, and we support these introduction of pill-testing at events
freedoms enshrined in the calls. argue it could save lives by warning
Victorian Charter of Human Rights revellers about dangerous substances
and Responsibilities Act (2006). in drugs they plan to consume.
The state government needs to
move quickly to ensure that the
To many, Greg’s act of civil needle and syringe programs are Victorian Sex Party MP Fiona
disobedience is the sole option when working well, and are accepted by Patten, who supports the push for
it comes to achieving Victorian drug the community that they target. pill-testing in Victoria, said a trial
law reform. could provide police with valuable
information about the drugs in
circulation. The most sensible way
would be to test it at one festival and
for the police to allow it happen,”
she said.

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