Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been criticised for saying there was ‘no evidence’ pill testing would save lives

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A New South Wales government inquiry into drug use in the state is set to examine the effectiveness of pill testing, despite the state government’s opposition to the policy.

The Australian reported on Thursday that the chief operating officer of the special inquiry into drug use, David McGrath, said expanding the terms of the inquiry gave it “an opportunity to look at substance-testing for those substances”.

The NSW government established a special commission of inquiry into the drug ice, or crystal methamphetamine, in November last year following a spate of deaths.

In February the terms of the inquiry were widened at Howard’s recommendation to include “other illicit amphetamine type stimulants, in recognition of the nature of drug culture and the fact that many ice users also use other drugs”.

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“Ice and other illegal drugs are having a shocking impact on communities across NSW,” premier Gladys Berejiklian said at the time.

“To ensure the commission has the extensive powers it needs to help us combat the use of ice and other illegal drugs – and to get help for those who need it – I have recommended that special powers be approved to get the job done.”

The change opens the door for the inquiry to consider the effectiveness of pill testing. Currently only the Australian Capital Territory has conducted pill testing trials in Australia.

“Our terms of reference have been changed to include all amphetamine-type stimulants,” McGrath told the Australian. “We have got the authority to look at the need and impact of all ­amphetamine-type stimulants, which includes ecstasy.”

The terms also allow Howard to consider “any drug-related recommendations from any NSW inquest held during the course of the inquiry”, and comes during a period in which the state’s coroner has taken an active interest in drug-related deaths.

In February, the deputy state coroner, Harriet Grahame, released findings from an inquest held into opioid-related deaths in which she called for a complete reframing of drug policy in the state and said the government should consider “decriminalising personal use of drugs, as a mechanism to reduce the harm caused by drug use”.

Earlier this week Grahame announced an expansion of a separate inquiry into festival deaths from pills to include a seventh death.

The NSW government has been steadfast in its opposition to pill testing at music festivals despite it being backed by a range of experts including the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Medical Association and former Australian federal police commissioner Mick Palmer.

During the lead up to the March state election, Berejiklian was criticised for saying there was “no evidence” it would save lives. In a statement on Thursday, a spokesman for Berejiklian said that had not changed.

“There is no change to the premier’s position, which is opposition to pill testing,” he said.