Queensland Government Threatens to Shut Down Pill-Testing Clinic Relaunch After Private Funding Surprise
A fierce showdown is brewing in Queensland as the government moves to block the reopening of a controversial pill-testing clinic in Brisbane—this time fueled by private funds.
The Loop Australia, the organization behind the now-closed CheQpoint clinic in Bowen Hills, has announced plans to resume operations as early as this Friday after securing a private donation. The clinic had originally operated with public money before being shut down by the LNP government earlier this year.
But Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has slammed the plan, vowing to introduce legislation to ban pill testing outright if The Loop refuses to back down.
“We made a clear election promise: no support for pill testing, whether publicly or privately funded. We will do whatever it takes to uphold this commitment,” Bleijie declared over the weekend.
The decision has ignited intense debate across Queensland—supporters argue that pill testing saves lives by reducing harm at festivals and events, while critics claim it encourages drug use and undermines law enforcement.
With the clinic’s planned reopening just days away, all eyes are on Queensland’s political arena to see whether this private initiative will survive or be shut down before it even begins.
