A PUSH for a pill-testing pilot program in St Kilda has been slammed by one councillor as an “attention-seeking” proposal that turned the council into a “Clown Hall”.

It comes as councillors last night voted to lobby the State Government to set up a trial of drug-checking machines at consenting venues and festivals in the area.

Cr Andrew Bond said the proposal from former mayor Cr Dick Gross and Cr Ogy Simic was “the most ridiculous I have come across” and not a core responsibility of local government.

“Keeping the streets clean is a core responsibility ... and we’re not exactly setting the world on fire in that particular area at the moment,” he said.

“Is it any wonder Port Phillip can’t keep the streets clean when the major issue this council has (aligned) itself with ... is the testing of illegal party drugs?”

Cr Bond said the proposal made the council “the laughing stock of Melbourne”.

“In the past 48 hours, we have disgraced ourselves with this (proposal). We have become the proverbial ‘Clown Hall’,” he said.

“I can only hope this is the last ridiculous, illegal and attention-seeking proposal to come before council ... for the remainder of the duration of this council’s term.

“If is isn’t and we continue to distract ourselves and the organisation with (matters) such as this then the next four years are going to be an ineffective and achievement free four years ... for the residents and ratepayers of Port Phillip.”

Cr Bond said the pilot program was “illegal”, “it will never happen and it shouldn’t”.

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“Whilst your little social group and political circles might be patting you on the back, the rest of the country is laughing and shaking their heads in disgust at the CoPP,” he said.

Cr Simic said harm minimisation programs, including drug-checking machines, had been proven to work in countries throughout Europe.

The exact nature of the pilot program and how it will be conducted will be determined as part of the officer’s report.

There is no timeline for the completion of the report.