Pill testing trial dismissed by Premier Daniel Andrews

Music festivals were linked with more than a dozen overdoses and over a hundred drug arrests this summer — but the Victorian government is refusing a hard line approach and pill testing trials. Here’s why.

Music festivals were linked with more than a dozen overdoses and over a hundred drug arrests this summer.

Music festivals were linked with more than a dozen overdoses and over a hundred drug arrests this summer — yet the government is refusing to match a NSW clampdown on the bad behaviour.

As a Sunday Herald Sun investigation revealed the full toll of Victoria’s festival carnage, the government said a hard line approach would destroy live music.

But Premier Daniel Andrews gave his strongest rejection of pill testing to date, telling the Sunday Herald Sun his government would never embark on a trial.

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“People have made a comparison to the injecting room, there is no comparison to be made with the injecting room, it’s a completely different issue,” he said.

“Even substances that are so-called pure, can kill. That’s the start and the finish of it. There is no safe level at which you can consume this stuff.

“The notion you can bring certainty to it, I just think is wrong and potentially dangerous because it misleads people. Maybe we have to do better at educating people.”

The notorious Rainbow Serpent Festival, St Kilda Festival, Laneway Festival, Babylon and Beyond the Valley comprised those festivals analysed.

The worst offending occurred at Rainbow where police were pelted with objects and seven people were admitted to hospital for suspected overdoses.

Police sniffer dogs at the entrance to the festival. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Police have vowed to bill organisers for the unruly event, as questions remain over its future.

One festival reveller — Callum Edwards, 20, — died over summer after becoming critically ill at the Beyond the Valley event.

The Coroner is investigating the cause of his death.

The State Government looks unlikely to introduce new measures to deal with the festival carnage despite a crackdown on such events in NSW.

Fourteen festivals which an expert panel has deemed “high risk” will be required to apply for a new license through the independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.

The music industry has slammed the scheme, which began on March 1.

Medics and police on watch as Revellers rave all day and night. Rainbow Serpent Festival.

An Andrews government spokesman said it would consider measures to reduce the harm caused by drugs at festivals — but won’t jeopardise the future of live music in Victoria.

“Victoria is the live music capital of the nation and we want to keep it that way,” the spokesman said.
“We’re working with Victoria Police, the music industry, festival organisers and local government, to ensure appropriate police involvement in the planning of the small number of high risk music festivals.

Daniel Andrews has told the Sunday Herald Sun his government would never embark on a trial.

“We’re looking at a range of options in consultation with police, the music industry and local councils — that will be designed to ensure a thriving and safe music festival industry and culture, but avoid the outcomes we’ve seen under the NSW Liberal Government, who are destroying live music in their state.”

An investigation into five major festivals held in Victoria since January has found there were:

— 117 people caught with drugs including dealers;

— 15 suspected drug overdoses;

— 45 drug drivers;

— Four assaults;

— Three sexual assaults; and

— Four arrests for weapons.

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