‘It’s ok to say no’: Vic Shadow Police Minister slams pill testing debate

Victorian Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin has hit out at suggestions the state should legalise pill testing because “it’s ok to say no”. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will open debate about pill testing with cabinet ministers and seek expert advice on the harm-minimisation approach. She signalled a shift in tone on possible drug reform following the overdose of nine people at a music festival earlier this month. “I’ve personally been against it for a long period of time because I’m of the view it’s ok to say no,” Mr Battin told Sky News Australia. “We need to say to kids and young people it’s not ok to take drugs. “We’ve seen multiple people either dying or in severe injuries due to taking those drugs, and even the testing may not have picked up on that. “We need to improve the amount of counselling we’ve got available for these kids for addiction; we need to make sure that kids can get referrals and referred in the right direction, rather than going in and saying it’s ok to have the drugs at these festivals.”