Overview
- The Minns government announced on Tuesday a $4.3 million program to deliver pill testing at up to 15 music festivals a year from October, to be run by NSW Health with NUAA and festival partners.
- A University of Sydney evaluation of the March 2025–February 2026 trial found hospital presentations fell from 3.6 to 2.3 per festival day and that testing reached about 1,800 people with nearly 1,500 samples analysed.
- On-site services will use NSW Health Pathology chemists to analyse small samples while NUAA peer workers explain results and offer harm-reduction support, with amnesty bins available for disposal.
- The trial detected unexpected substances in about 8% of samples and high-dose MDMA in roughly 4% of MDMA tablets, findings that led many users to discard or reduce use and that fed state early-warning alerts.
- Advocates and some MPs want testing expanded to community sites and critics warn about program cost and sustainability, while NSW Police will keep a strong visible presence, including sniffer dogs, at participating events.