Hundreds of people have taken to Sydney’s streets to show support for pill testing at raves and music festivals after a spate of drug-related deaths.
Protesters danced and marched their way from Town Hall to Hyde Park on Saturday, in a bid to pressure the New South Wales government to allow the practice.
They held up placards reading: ‘Just test the dam (sic) pills!’ and ‘Pill testing saves lives’.
She is one of five people who have died after taking drugs at music festivals in New South Wales since September
Hundreds of people have taken to Sydney’s streets to show support for pill testing at raves and music festivals after a spate of drug-related deaths
Protesters danced and marched their way from Town Hall to Hyde Park on Saturday, in a bid to pressure the New South Wales government to allow the practice
Despite the repeated tragedies in recent months, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has rejected calls to introduce pill testing, stating there is ‘not enough evidence’ to show it can save lives
The march took place a week after Alex Ross-King, 19, died in hospital after a suspected overdose while attending the FOMO festival at Parramatta Park.
She is one of five people who have died after taking drugs at music festivals in New South Wales since September.
Despite the repeated tragedies in recent months, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has rejected calls to introduce pill testing, stating there is ‘not enough evidence’ to show it can save lives.
A coalition of groups, including Keep Sydney Open and Unharm, organised the event this weekend
‘The failed war on drugs has killed our friends, family and others in our community for decades while politicians and police have wilfully ignored the mounting evidence that zero-tolerance drug policing does not work,’ organisers said in a statement
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) disagree, pointing out a heavy police presence and sniffer dogs isn’t deterring revellers from taking illegal drugs at dance festivals.
A coalition of groups, including Keep Sydney Open and Unharm, organised the event this weekend.
‘The failed war on drugs has killed our friends, family and others in our community for decades while politicians and police have wilfully ignored the mounting evidence that zero-tolerance drug policing does not work,’ organisers said in a statement.
A number of politicians, including Greens leader Richard Di Natale, joined the campaign for a harm minimisation approach
‘How many more young people need to pay with their lives before we put in place pill testing, which we know saves lives?’ Senator Di Natale said
A number of politicians, including Greens leader Richard Di Natale, joined the campaign for a harm minimisation approach.
Pill testing involves users anonymously submitting samples for forensic analysis and feedback on the purity and composition of their drugs so they can make an informed decision on whether or not to take them.
‘How many more young people need to pay with their lives before we put in place pill testing, which we know saves lives?’ Senator Di Natale said.
Independent MP Kerryn Phelps, who is a GP and former president of the Australian Medical Association, also addressed the crowd to promote a policy change – a day after a prominent group of doctors came out in support of pill testing trials.
Alex Ross-King (pictured) died at FOMO festival at Parramatta from a suspected drug overdose
Joshua Tam (pictured left) died after attending the Lost Paradise music festival on the NSW central coast. Diana Nguyen (pictured right) died from a suspected drug overdose after attending the Defqon.1 music festival in NSW
Callum Brosnan (pictured left) and Joseph Pham (pictured right) both died after suspected drug overdose at festivals late last year
The RACP, which represents more than 17,000 physicians and paediatricians, sent an open letter to Ms Berejiklian and her counterparts urging them to follow the lead of the Australian Capital Territory.
‘Ideally, we would all like young people and the wider public not to use drugs illicitly, however, the reality is that they do in large numbers and the moral message to abstain from taking drugs is not getting through,’ Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said on Friday.
They now join the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, who are also urging governments to adopt pill testing.
Independent MP Kerryn Phelps, who is a GP and former president of the Australian Medical Association, also addressed the crowd to promote a policy change – a day after a prominent group of doctors came out in support of pill testing trials
The RACP, which represents more than 17,000 physicians and paediatricians, sent an open letter to Ms Berejiklian and her counterparts urging them to follow the lead of the Australian Capital Territory
Pill testing involves users anonymously submitting samples for forensic analysis and feedback on the purity and composition of their drugs so they can make an informed decision on whether or not to take them