New South Wales will roll out pill testing at up to 15 music festivals from October, after the state government pledged AU$4.3 million to continue the service following a successful year-long trial. The move follows a March report finding the scheme reduced drug-related harm at festivals, and has been welcomed by harm-reduction advocates and by Jennie Ross-King, whose daughter died of an MDMA overdose in 2019. However, the Coalition opposition has vowed to scrap the policy if it wins the March state election, arguing it sends "mixed signals" about illicit drugs.

NSW Health will consult festival organisers and harm-reduction groups on which events take part, with police maintaining a visible presence, including sniffer dogs, at testing sites. Campaigners, including drug law reform group Unharm and Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, argue testing should extend beyond festivals into community settings, noting most MDMA-related deaths occur at private homes rather than events. NSW joins the ACT and Victoria in offering pill testing, while Queensland banned the practice altogether a year ago; NSW's Health Minister insists the government does not endorse drug use, while Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane accused Labor of effectively providing "quality control" for organised crime.