Tense scenes have played out in Queensland parliament today amid persistent rumours that the LNP will introduce a last-minute amendment outlawing pill testing.
Harm minimisation advocates say the Queensland government will set a “dangerous precedent” in going against health expert advice if it moves to legislate against philanthropic organisations conducting pill testing.
Earlier this week, The Guardian ran an article alleging that Queensland’s Liberal National Party intended to introduce an amendment to the Health Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 which would seek to ban philanthropic private providers from providing drug testing services, including at festivals.
This would not be an entirely unexpected move.
When the LNP came to power in Queensland late last year, it announced plans to scrap funding for the two permanent CheQpoint pill-testing sites in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
An independent evaluation of the sites was completed by the University of Queensland and handed to parliament.
It has never been released to the public, despite repeated calls from the AMAQ, RACGP and multiple addiction treatment services.
“The government says ‘there is no safe way to take drugs,’” AMAQ president Dr Nick Yim told The Medical Republic.
“If they have evidence to demonstrate this, they should release it, so the Queensland community can examine the data.
“They must also consult with clinicians, patients and the broader community in good faith and transparently before banning this and other vital health services.”
When drug-checking service The Loop – one of the three organisations that ran CheQpoint – announced in August that it had secured private funding and would resume services at the Brisbane site, deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie said he would introduce legislation or regulate against private providers of the service.
More specifically, he said the government would “do whatever is necessary” to prevent the site’s reopening.
The Medical Republic reached out to Health Minister Tim Nicholls’ office on Wednesday to confirm The Guardian report suggesting that the government intended to introduce an amendment to ban pill testing services on Thursday.
Mr Nicholls’ office said The Guardian was “speculating” and that the Crisafulli government had been “abundantly clear” on its position regarding drug testing.
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Because Queensland’s parliament only has one house, if a last-minute amendment banning drug testing was added to the existing bill, it could theoretically go through without the usual parliamentary scrutiny.
The Loop CEO Cameron Francis told TMR that the late introduction of such an amendment would set a “dangerous precedent”.
“The statements the government have been making are really showing that this is purely ideologically driven, and that is a bit of a surprise,” Mr Francis said.
“The Crisafulli government, when they first got in, said they would listen to experts and they’d be guided by evidence.
“And I think that’s definitely not what’s happening here.
“I think it sets a dangerous precedent for the way the government might treat some of the other health issues in the community.”
TMR now understands that the UQ evaluation and an amendment banning the operation of pill testing services will be tabled on Thursday evening.
The Loop has requested access to the report under Queensland’s Right To Information Act. It has been denied access several times.
