Stereosonic releases statement on pill-testing, NSW Deputy Premier threatens arrests

The need for pill-testing at Australian music festivals has been put in the forefrontin recent months, with artists, doctors, promoters and even researchers from New York University coming forward to support the proposal.

In December the calls for pill-testing intensified after the deaths of 25-year-old Sylvia Choi and 19-year oldStefan Woodward at Stereosonic Sydney and Adelaide, respectively.

Stereosonic, which emphasises zero drug tolerance on its website to patrons, has now come forward in support of a pilot program for pill-testing.

In a statement posted to its website, Totem OneLove Group has said it would throw its support behind pill-testing, should it be sanctioned by key stakeholders.

“In principle pill testing would have our full support as long as all the key stakeholders sanctioned the initiative to ensure its effectiveness,” read the statement.“We would strongly support any policies or initiatives that would minimise harm, reduce drug use and make events a safer environment for patrons. Unfortunately drug use is an issue effecting all Australians and is not limited to events.”

However, the Greens’ push for a pill-testing scheme in the Australian Capital Territory was rejected by both the ACT Government as well as Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson.

In NSW the government has maintained an unwavering opposition to pill-testing, following plans by a not-for-profitagency to trial drug testing at festivals.

Will Tregoning, Founder of drug law reform agencyUnharm, has said his organisation will employ toxicologists to test drugs in a van outside of festivals. He said the van will be encircled by supporters of the cause, who are willing to face police arrest. Tregoning hopes to raise around $100,000 to fund drug testing equipment.

NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant has said those involved with the pilot program for pill-testing in NSW run the risk of arrest for drug supply and manslaughter.

Speaking to 2UE radio, Grant said: […]“And if these pills go wrong and kill someone they may well be vulnerable to manslaughter charges.”

Emergency physician and drug expertDr David Caldicott told the ABC in December he supported pill-testing. More interestingly, in a comment made to Guardian Australia today, Caldicott said it’s possible Unharm would not be charged for pill-testing at festivals because the people handling the dugs would be licensed toxicologists.

In direct disagreement with Deputy Premier Troy Grant Guardian Australia has also said a 2005 federal Department of Health and Ageing report concluded it was unlikely a person conducting pill testing could be found guilty of possessing or supplying an illicit drug in NSW, or aiding and abetting an offence.

Caldicott told Guardian Australia he is trying to set a precedent with pill-testing. “[Tony] Grant says we can’t, but everyone going into the Kings Cross supervised injecting room aren’t arrested, and police don’t attend overdoses [to arrest drug users],” he said.

President of theAustralianDrug Reform Foundation AlexWodak has said he will also break the law to test drugs at festivals, and Melbourne rapperIlly said it should be “encouraged”.

Last monthhealth and drug group Harm Reduction Victoria called for drug disposal bins at festivals, similar to those used at Glastonbury in the UK.

Neil Ackland, CEO at Junkee Media and founder of Sydney’s Electronic Music Conference, told TMN:“Anything that can be done to reduce harm and save lives has to be considered a serious option.”

As previously reported by TMN this week, researchers from New York University found ecstasy tablets to be mixed with equally harmful substances, including the banned designer drugs bath salts.

According to theFour Corners’ Dying To Dancereport Australia was the biggest consumer of ecstasy and MDMA with some 400,000 young Australians using recreational drugs, and that the number of deaths and hospitalisations resulting from drug rapidly increasing.