Australian band The Presets hit out at Government threat to shut down music festivals following drug deaths

THE Presets have been slammed for comparing drug-related deaths at music festivals to those killed on roads.

A 23-year-old woman was taken to hospital in Sydney on New Year’s Day after taking MDMA at the Field Day festival. Picture: chad91m

ONE of Australia’s most well-known bands has slammed a Government plan to crackdown on music festivals including a threat to shut events that did not improve safety standards following a spate of drug deaths.

On a post on electronic duo The Presets’ Facebook page, drummer and keyboardist Kim Moyes compared deaths at music festivals to the far larger number killed on NSW’s roads and said closing festivals was “nuts”.

However, the statement has received a mixed reaction even from The Presets’ own fans with many saying deaths on roads were incomparable to those at festivals.

On Sunday, NSW police minister Troy Grant said festivals needed to do more to prevent deaths and injuries due to drugs.

It's devastating that there have been 2 drug related deaths at Australian music festivals in recent months, I feel for...

Posted by The Presets on Saturday, 2 January 2016

“If there’s measures that organisers can make or benchmarks that we could set that they have to overcome to make it the safest venue possible then that’s what we will be expecting of them,” he said.

Mr Grant’s comments came after a 23-year-old woman was taken to hospital in Sydney on New Year’s Day after taking MDMA at the Field Day event. She has since been released.

Since November 2014, six people have died at Australian music festivals with countless more taken to hospital.

Asked if festivals that failed to improve could be closed, the minister said: “Yes. They could potentially be shut down.

“Ultimately, if the events continue to cause deaths, well the festivals will write their own scripts.”

A 23-year-old woman was taken to hospital in Sydney on New Year’s Day after taking MDMA at the Field Day festival. Picture: chad91m

In a post on the weekend, Moyes, whose band is a regular at dance festivals and is well known for hits including Talk Like That, said the recent drug-related deaths at music festivals was “devastating” and he felt “for the friends and family of those poor souls”.

“To the young lady who was rushed to hospital in a critical condition on NYD, I’m glad you’ve now left hospital and on the mend. Here’s to a speedy recovery.”

However, he poured scorn on the Government’s response.

“Threatening to shut down NSW music festivals and blaming the organizers for the choices of the attendees? Nuts,” he wrote.

“Tragically, 10 people have been killed on NSW roads between Dec. 20 + Jan 2 which has been reported as a ‘good result’ in relation to the previous year’s road death tolls. I don’t want to trivialize their deaths but no government is threatening to shut down transport.”

While some have supported Moyes, pointing out that many deaths on the road are caused by drunk drivers and calling for drug testing stations at festivals, others have questioned his reasoning behind his statement.

“What rubbish, transportation is undertaken legally by almost every one of us every day to get through our daily lives. This drug use cannot be compared as it is voluntary, illegal and risky behaviour,” said Mark Cowan in a post.

Another said while driving was indeed dangerous it was unavoidable while, “going to music festivals is a privilege for a few”.

Sydney woman Sylvia Choi collapsed at the Stereosonic music festival in November and later died in Concord Hospital. Image: AAP Image/NSW Police, Choi Family.

Moyes replied to those saying he shouldn’t compare transport to drug use, saying: “I’m not, I’m comparing death to death”.

In September, Nigel Pauljevic, who was described by his family as a “caring, loving sensitive soul” died after being found unconscious in a tent at the Defqon 1 Festival in western Sydney. The month before a 23-year-old Sydney woman was found unresponsive by friends and was unable to be revived at the Dragon Dreaming Festival northwest of Canberra.

Most recently, the Stereosonic music festivals have been marred by drugs deaths including 25-year-old Sylvia Choi at the Sydney leg in November with 19-year-old Stefan Woodward also dying from a drug overdose at Stereosonic Adelaide.