Elected representatives such as politicians are ostensibly elected to represent the views of the people.
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At least, that is what we, the steadfast voting public, are lead to believe.
However, in some cases, there is a disconnect between the will of the people and the wills of politicians.
In Tasmania, that growing divide has been evidenced in the debate around pill testing, with growing calls to implement a trial in Tasmania falling on the deaf ears of the government. Festival-goers at the Marion Bay Falls Festival have also weighed in on the debate, with the overwhelming majority of those interviewed by The Examiner saying they supported pill-testing in Tasmania.
Albeit caveats need to be said around the sample size and that it was but one festival being held in Tasmania, these festival punters are among a growing number of people and advocacy group who appear to support the harm minimisation practice in Tasmania and on the mainland.
In Tasmania, Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Stuart Day came out in support of pill testing in the state in June 2018. In November 2018, a proposed pill testing legislation by the Tasmanian Greens was voted down in Parliament.
In January 2019, 12 months ago, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation pushed for more pill testing trials to be held throughout Australia in the wake of a number of deaths in subsequent months from drug overdoses at NSW music festivals.
More broadly, former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer also voiced his support for more pill testing trials across the country. However, the Tasmanian Government has stayed firm in its resolute response that it does not support pill testing in any form. A tricky part of governing a state, or a country, is navigating this apparent disconnect between government policy approaches and the social will of the people - just ask the Prime Minister. But it is these watershed moments that will make or break the political future of any party, regardless of whether they are in government.
Pill testing is emerging as an issue that will divide not only the parties but also the people.