Greens councillor under fire for tipping off drug users at music festival
AN INNER West councillor who tipped off drug users heading to a music festival about police sniffer dogs is now being investigated by the government for his “disgraceful” remarks.
NSW
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A SYDNEY councillor who tipped off drug users about police sniffer dogs and says it’s fine to catch the train with a joint in your pocket is being investigated by the Office of Local Government.
But defiant Inner West Greens councillor Tom Kiat has called for sniffer dogs to be replaced by pill testing at festivals.
In a September 6 Facebook post, Mr Kiat encouraged people to come to the Edge Festival in Ashfield.
The event was billed as a theatre, arts and music show, and the council actively encouraged people to catch public transport.
But Mr Kiat — who unsuccessfully tried to terminate the council’s Australia Day celebrations earlier this year — issued a warning to any of his 688 followers who may be catching the train.
“Watch out for drug dogs and police at the station!” he wrote.
Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton said the post is unacceptable.
“It is absolutely disgraceful and typical of the Greens who are happy for people to take illegal drugs,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Why would the councillor feel the need to warn people about drug dogs and police unless he felt some of his Facebook friends were thinking about breaking the law.
“I have asked the Office of Local Government to investigate the posts as a potential breach of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.”
The investigation comes less than a week after a two people died at the Defqon1 music Festival at Penrith on September 16.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has since established a panel of police, health and liquor and gaming experts to consider increased penalties for drug dealers, improved safety and education programs.
Mr Kiat defended his decision to warn festivalgoers.
“You shouldn’t be arrested because you took the train with a joint in your pocket,” he said.
“The tragic deaths at Defqon1 are a wake-up call. We cannot and should not stop music festivals. But we can make them safer by allowing for pill testing.
“Drug dogs do not make music festivals safer. It was only five years ago that the presence of drug dogs at Defqon1 led to a young person panicking and swallowing all their pills at once to avoid detection, and tragically died as a result.”
Greens MLC David Shoebridge also supports the @sniff_off Twitter handle, which tips off people about drug dogs at public transport hubs.
An Inner West Council spokesman said the council “does not comment on statements made by individual councillors”.
Mr Kiat’s fellow councillor, Liberal Julie Passas, was more forthcoming.
“How is he going to know if the guy picked up for carrying a joint doesn’t have more than that?” she said.
“Why is he going into bat for people who are taking drugs?”