NSW panel on festival safety will get music industry input

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s new high-level panel to provide advice on how to keep people safe at music festivals will also gain input from the live music industry.

This has been the premier’s response to the two deaths and mass hospitalisations at Defqon. 1 music festival in Penrith.

While the deaths have ignited calls again for pill testing from a broad sector, neither the government nor the opposition will budge from their stance.

Whether the advice of the panel of health, law enforcement and regulatory experts will, as a consequence, achieve anything substantial remains to be seen.

The panel is made up of police commissioner, Mick Fuller APM, NSW chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant and chair of the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority Philip Crawford.

They will provide advice to the government on:

• Whether new offences or increased penalties are required to stop drug dealers endangering lives;
• How music festival promoters and operators can improve safety at their festivals; and
• Whether improved drug education is required to address the increase in illegal drug use in our community.

“We need to do everything we can to protect the safety of concert goers and people attending music festivals,” Berejiklian said.

“That is why I have tasked our health, law enforcement and regulatory experts to advise government on what can be done immediately to improve safety at these events.

“I want people to be able to enjoy music festivals – they are an important part of NSW’s entertainment scene.

“But unfortunately, the operators of this particular festival have had a poor safety record with four deaths in the last five years and many more being treated for drug-related injuries.

“This is simply not good enough.

“Festival goers have a right to enjoy these events without fear of harm.

“Parents and families expect us to do whatever we can to keep their children safe.”

The premier has asked the panel to come back with a list of recommendations within four weeks.

But any urgent advice before that will be acted upon immediately.

Aside from the music industry, the panel will also speak to local councils.