Drug reform
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State Parliament
Bob Carr held a drug summit 25 years ago. NSW Labor is repeating history
NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns would have faced a backlash from party members if he had not locked in a date for this election promise.
- by Alexandra Smith
Latest
The inside story of Labor’s sudden change of heart on pill testing
Under Daniel Andrews, pill testing was a non-starter. Jacinta Allan made it permanent within months. Summer overdoses were a big reason why.
- by Rachel Eddie
Australia’s cocaine use is soaring. Why?
Australia, it seems, is awash with cocaine, despite its high price and record police hauls – not to mention hospitalisations and deaths.
- by Tim Elliott
Magazine
Good Weekend
The June 29 Edition
Cocaine country: Australia’s costly habit | Love match: Alex de Minaur & Katie Boulter | Costa Georgiadis: how old is that beard?
‘Meth’ was just salt but Brisbane pill-testing site finds far riskier drugs
The surprising results of the first month of Brisbane’s new pill testing service can be revealed.
- by Felicity Caldwell
Pill testing to become permanent in Victoria
A mobile site will be launched from December and visit up to 10 festivals across two summers, and a fixed site in a club district in Melbourne will open in the middle of next year.
- by Rachel Eddie
Updated
Victorian Parliament
Pill-testing trial confirmed for Victoria over summer
After a spate of overdoses at music festivals, state cabinet has approved a push from Premier Jacinta Allan to trial pill testing.
- by Kieran Rooney and Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
For subscribers
‘Early warning sign’ as police shun drug diversion scheme
Just one in 12 people found in possession of a small quantity of drugs have been diverted away from the courts during the first three months of a harm-reduction scheme.
- by Amber Schultz
I found the business card in my door. Hours later, the drugs were delivered
In the US, where obtaining cannabis is as easy as ordering Uber Eats, Joe Biden hopes relaxing federal drug laws will help him win young and black votes.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Pill-testing plan to stop ‘horror’ of teenagers overdosing: Premier
A proposal for a year-long pill-testing trial in Victoria will be considered by cabinet after Premier Jacinta Allan called overdoses of teens at festivals an “unimaginable” horror.
- by Annika Smethurst and Ashleigh McMillan
Exclusive
Victorian Parliament
Victorian pill testing trial to go to cabinet ‘within weeks’ with premier’s support
The proposed 12-month trial would likely include mobile teams at music festivals, where patrons could have their illicit drugs tested and receive harm reduction advice.
- by Rachael Dexter