A possible drug decriminalisation trial for Victoria will be examined by an expert group, despite the government rejecting a legislative bid.
Reason Party Leader Fiona Patten introduced a bill late last month to decriminalise drug use and possession, shifting the focus from punishment to treatment.
Under her proposal, police would issue a mandatory notice and referral of drug education or treatment to those found to have used or possessed an illicit drug.
If a person complies with the notice, there will be no finding of guilt and no criminal record.
The bill is set to be defeated in parliament on Wednesday, with both the Victorian government and opposition flagging their intention to vote it down.
However, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes offered a concession to investigate future reforms.
"The government will convene a working group with police, health professionals, addictions specialists amongst others to give advice to the minister for health and the minister for police on possible infringement trial options," she told parliament.
"There is no location for any potential trial. It may be looked at by a working group that we've just committed to establishing."
Ahead of the bill's impending defeat, Ms Pattern said it wasn't the end of her campaign.
"Governments are really slow to move when we're talking reform," she said in a video posted to her social media account.
"This bill starts that conversation around treating the use of drugs differently - seeing it as a health issue, not one that should be stigmatised, or criminalised."
