Sniffer Dogs & Pill Testing Don’t Mix
The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian government to end the use of police sniffer dogs at music festivals as the summer festival season approaches.
The Police Commissioner confirmed last week that sniffer dogs would be expected to operate alongside pill testing at festivals this summer.
The progressive crossbench have made it abundantly clear that sniffer dogs and pill testing don’t mix, and that the Labor Government must ban the use of sniffer dogs to ensure that festival-goers aren’t deterred by police tactics like dog squads from accessing life-saving drug checking services.
Festival-goers deserve clarity and reassurance that they’re not going to be targeted by police and sniffer dogs for using a life saving health service.
The Greens want to see:
- The Victorian Labor Government ban the use of sniffer dogs at festivals.
- Decriminalisation of personal drug use – directing people who use drugs to health services for help, not prison for harm.
- Increased funding and expansion for drug harm reduction, education services and initiatives.
