After two people in their early 20s died and three others were taken to hospital in critical condition last weekend during the Defqon.1 Penrith music festival, the longstanding debate around drug safety and pill-testing was once again brought into the spotlight.
As a result, the state Premier for the NSW Liberal party, Gladys Berejiklian, has put together a three person panel for advising the government on drug-related deaths at festivals. The music industry’s peak representative body has written an open letter asking for a seat on the panel, but unfortunately it’s looking highly unlikely that that will happen.
In spite of the fortified calls for officially sanctioned drug checking trials to begin in NSW, and the fact that pill testing is a strategy that’s already saved lives in Australia this year, we’ve instead heard state officials vow to ban the music festival.
Gladys Berejiklian has definitely been the loudest voice to oppose pill testing recently and propose shutting down Defqon.1, which is a solution that dismisses both the actual evidence and studies around drug safety solutions and the importance of music events to the music industry.
The three person panel currently consists of the NSW police commissioner, the state’s chief medical officer and the chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
In the open letter, MusicNSW has urged Gladys Berejiklian to include the industry in the conversation.
“We are focused on ensuring live music and entertainment is a positive and safe experience for everyone and the recent deaths due to drug use are heartbreaking and deeply troubling,” it said.
“Please do not shut us out of this important part of the discussion … our expertise, experience, skills and research can assist you.”
News.com.au has reported that a spokesman for the premier suggested the panel would not be expanded.
“The expert panel … will be consulting with the music industry to ensure its voice are heard,” a spokesman said.
“This is an important process and we welcome input from MusicNSW and all of its member organisations.”
It’s essentially dismissive to claim that feedback from the music industry will be heard but not considered important enough to be a part of the key decision making. Not fully factoring in the needs of the music industry fully is how we get solutions that involve shutting down events instead of dealing with the actual problem at hand.
A panel advising the safety of music events absolutely needs a seat for the music industry.