Forum organisers failed to invite government health experts to music festival safety talks

A greenie talkfest convened to smash the state government over music festival safety measures designed to save young people from drug overdoses has failed to invite any government health experts.

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A greenie talkfest convened to smash the state government over music festival safety measures designed to save young people from drug overdoses has failed to invite any government health experts.

NSW Health has taken the lead on the new measures, which include specialised emergency medical staff being on the ground at “high-risk” festivals and tighter licensing restrictions.

But forum organisers Greens MP Cate Faehrmann and independent MP Alex Greenwich failed to ask government representatives from these sectors to attend.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard was forced to intervene and personally called Mr Greenwich to ask for a NSW Health doctor to be at the forum at state parliament on Monday.

The organisers of the forum Cate Faehrmann and independent MP Alex Greenwich failed to invite government representatives from sectors to attend. Picture: Adam Yip

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The government also sent Liquor and Gaming representatives.

“Even though they weren’t invited to it I offered to (Mr) Greenwich for a senior health official to come along and talk about concerns and make sure their message was being heard,” Mr Hazzard said.

“I’m hopeful the high-risk festival operators will all pick up their game … start taking responsibility … and stop throwing barbs at us.”

A spokesman for Ms Faehrmann said Premier Gladys Berejiklian had been invited.

The forum cames as ACT authorities agreed to allow pill testing inside the Groovin’ The Moo festival in April.

The new licensing rules, which come into effect on March 1, follow a horror summer during which five people died from suspected overdoses at NSW festivals from September to January.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard stepped in and asked a health official to join the talks. Picture: Monique Harmer

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a government liaison officer is always available to meet with festival organisers to discuss concerns. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

The forum heard from Steveo Damien, an organiser of “bush doof” Psyfari, which issued a statement about shutting down claiming the changes forced “excessive costs” on them and that they were the “new scapegoat of a failed government”.

He also admitted the organisers lacked the motivation to work with authorities.

“For us the reason for the cancellation was partly the uncertainty … combined with what we would expect to be delivered as the police bill … the motivation to work through that process is pretty hard,” he said.

Ms Faehrmann claimed the “appalling new licence regime” needed to be stopped until there was “thorough consultation”.

But Ms Berejiklian said there was a government liaison officer dedicated to meeting with any festival operator to discuss their concerns.