Hundreds rally to demand state government allow pill testing at music festivals
Hundreds of protesters stormed the steps of Sydney’s Town Hall today to demand pill testing at music and dance festivals, urging the state government to drop its opposition to testing before any more young people lose their lives from drug overdoses.
NSW
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Hundreds of protesters stormed the steps of Sydney’s Town Hall today to demand pill testing at music and dance festivals.
The demonstrators want the state government to drop its opposition to testing before any more young people lose their lives from drug overdoses.
There have been five such deaths already this summer in NSW alone.
Protesters carrying signs with slogans such as “Where there’s a pill there’s a way”, “Pill testing saves lives” and “Won’t somebody think of the children” chanted their dissatisfaction with Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Support Pill Testing NSW co-ordinator Sofia Devetak, 31, said she was concerned about the consequences if nothing changed.
“We will see more deaths, we will see more harm and we will see more hospitalisations,” she said.
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“If we don’t test for contaminants, rogue manufacturers making drugs with toxins in them will continue to make toxins and we will continue to die and be harmed.”
Greens leader Richard Di Natale urged the Premier to “get out of the way” on pill testing.
He addressed the public alongside speakers including Wentworth federal independent MP Dr Kerryn Phelps and Greens MP David Shoebridge.
Protesters also heard from organising groups Reclaim The Streets, Sniff Off, Keep Sydney Open, Unharm and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
“Let doctors and health professionals do their jobs and keep young people alive,” Senator Di Natale told the Sunday Telegraph prior to the rally.
“How many more young people need to die before you accept evidence and introduce pill testing here in NSW?”
Recreational drug user and avid festival goer Dan Gooden said the NSW Government should not only implement pill testing at dance festivals, concerts and raves but go one step further to regulate.
Mr Gooden’s view was one of many at the protest, which came a week after the death of 19-year-old Alex Ross King — who died after taking drugs prior to entering Parramatta’s FOMO Festival — and a day after the Royal Australasian College of Physicians came out in support of pill testing trials.
“If we really want to make it (taking drugs) safe, we should regulate a supply and then we won’t even need to test it,” Mr Gooden said at the Demand Action: Pill Testing Save Lives protest.
“I started occasionally taking drugs and going to festivals when I was in school, and I haven’t really ever had a health concern taking them.
“We need to have a more open and respectful conversation about why people choose to take drugs.
“It’s not because something is wrong with them or they want to escape.
“It’s an opportunity to connect with friends in a fun way … and young people do not need to die because they’re curious.”
Despite protester numbers being down on the 9100 expected to attend, the group took to the streets and marched to Hyde Park following speeches.
Originally published as Hundreds rally to demand state government allow pill testing at music festivals
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