The New South Wales government has confirmed that free, anonymous pill testing services will become a permanent feature at music festivals across the state, following a year-long trial that was found to reduce drug-related harm. The move has been welcomed by the Australian Festival Association, which described the service as "life-saving" for equipping festival-goers with the information needed to make safer choices, and comes as governments in other Australian states weigh similar measures with mixed success.

Under the scheme, trained forensic chemists will be on hand at up to 15 events statewide each year to test pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids on the spot, informing attendees of the substances and, where possible, their potency. Amnesty bins will also be provided for those who wish to discard drugs, and no personal details, phones or cameras will be permitted in testing areas to protect privacy, though drugs remain illegal in NSW. The trial, launched by the Minns Labor Government in early 2025 and independently evaluated by the University of Sydney, follows earlier efforts elsewhere in Australia, including a Queensland scheme that was defunded and later blocked by legislation, and a Victorian service that began in December 2024.