ON the eve of the Fremantle Laneway Festival tomorrow (Sunday, February 10), Greens candidate Jesse Hutchinson is calling on the McGowan government to introduce pill testing in WA.

Mr Hutchinson says he is concerned about the safety of young ravers after the drug-related deaths of five festival goers in Australia over the last five months.

“If WA wants the social and economic benefits of having cultural events like Laneway and Falls Festival then they need to face the realities of hosting these events, and that means listening to the evidence and protecting young people,” he says.

“Public health experts and even law enforcement experts have been clear that this is the only way to genuinely reduce harm.”

Critics of pill testing argue it encourages illegal drug use, and the testing can’t detect the ever-changing stream of synthetic drugs.

Last month the WA government said there was no plans to let festivalgoers test illicit pills before swallowing them.

by CHARLIE BRAY