Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison has weighed in on the controversial pill testing debate, saying all options should be kept on the table until more evidence was available.
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Pressure is mounting on NSW politicians as the contentious issue divides the state, following five suspected drug-related deaths in the state since September.
But the city’s own Labor member said it was time to draw a line in the sand and let the evidence guide the policy.
“It’s a really difficult conversation to have, and there is no right or wrong answer in this,” Ms Aitchison said.
“The community want to have a debate but it needs to be an informed conversation. We need to find a proper solution.”
As part of its campaign, NSW Labor has promised a drug summit and will “listen to the experts advice” – if successful in the March election.
“We will go with the advice of experts, parents and the police, but we will include a debate,” Ms Aitchison added.
“We want all our [Labor’s] decisions rounded by professional advice.”
The renewed push for pill testing at music festivals comes after the devastated family of Alex Ross-King called on the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for action.
The 19-year-old Central Coast woman died from a suspected overdose at Sydney music festival, FOMO, in January. The NSW Premier has held strong on her opposition to pill testing, stating the government had not been presented with enough evidence to support the strategy.
But Ms Aitchison disagreed, saying there is a large amount of evidence circulating and the community deserved a platform to share their views on the issue.
“We will include a discussion about pill testing in our drug summit,” she said.
“We need to look at all the options to reduce drug use and the harm that comes from it … but most importantly we need to be guided by the evidence.”
A directions hearing was listed at Glebe Coroners Court for this week into the five music festival deaths.