Kellie Sloane
Leader of the Opposition
NSW Liberal Leader
Sarah Mitchell
Shadow Minister for Health
The Liberals and Nationals are opposed to Labor's $4.3 million plan to make pill testing permanent in NSW and will overturn this decision if elected in March next year.
Less than 24 hours after a 23-year-old was shot in his home, the 50th organised crime shooting this year, Labor is sending mixed signals on drugs by becoming the official quality control for organised criminals.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said this announcement demonstrated the Government's poor priorities.
"The Minns Labor Government is waving the white flag when it comes to drugs while organised crime gangs profit off selling this poison to our kids," Ms Sloane said.
"Labor has its priorities wrong, announcing pill testing at a time when gangland crime is out of control and innocent people are being killed."
"My government will be clear eyed on this issue by going after the drug dealers profiting from illegal drugs and not giving young people a false sense of security that drugs are safe to take."
Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell said there were 14 suspected drug overdoses at the Knockout Festival in Sydney Olympic Park last October where pill testing was available.
"The Health Minister can't have it both ways on this issue. Either illicit drugs are dangerous and the government should be doing everything it can to stop young people taking them, or the government is willing to help young people take them – it is clear the approach the Minns Labor Government has taken," Mrs Mitchell said.
"Normalising drug use at festivals, rather than deterring it, undermines decades of messaging to young people about the harm of illicit drugs."
