Pitch Music & Arts Festival: Greens Renew Calls for Pill Testing After Suspected Overdose
The Greens are urging the Victorian government to rethink its strategy on pill testing following the death of a young man from a suspected overdose at the Pitch Music & Arts Festival.
Pitch festival ended in tragedy and cancelation as a 23-year-old punter died in the small hours of Sunday, just hours before the final day of the long-weekend programme was scrapped due to “extreme” heat.
“Pitch Music & Arts organisers are deeply saddened to learn this evening that one of our patrons has passed away after being airlifted to The Alfred hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning,” reads a statement from Untitled Group.
“Our thoughts are with their family and friends. We have our Crowd Care team on site to support patrons and staff, and are committed to providing support services to those who need them.”
A coroner’s report is being prepared for the man, from Niddrie in Melbourne’s northwest. The man’s identity has not been released.
“We cannot comment further at this time given the necessity to protect the privacy of those affected,” the statement continues.
The death should be a wake-up call to politicians who continue to drag their feet on the thorny issue of pill-testing, says Greens spokesperson Aiv Puglielli.
Premier Jacinta Allan and her Victorian Labor party ought to “shift gears and finally set up pill-testing,” says Puglielli in a statement.
“While this Labor government continues to stall, young Victorian lives are being put at risk,” he continues in a statement, issued Monday (March 11).
According to the Guardian, two other men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were taken to East Grampians Health Service suffering suspected overdoses, and are said to be in a stable condition.
“Even with pure MDMA we’ve seen how extreme heat can deal a deadly blow,” says Puglielli. “So with untested drugs circulating, this was truly a disaster waiting to happen.”
According to a reported published earlier this year by the ABC, a Victorian government spokesperson said there were no current plans to trial pill testing in the state, though $21 million of taxpayers’ money is said to be spent each year on harm reduction activities, which include engaging with attendees at festivals and nightclubs.
This long weekend is expected to be a hot one 🔥
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) March 7, 2024
If you're going to a festival – remember alcohol & drug use comes with risks – especially in hot weather.
Don’t delay asking for help if you or someone else feels unwell. Beat the heat with these tips: https://t.co/UMh0h2P8rj pic.twitter.com/QnJ9ajVAih
The man’s death comes as the final day of Pitch, held in Moyston, about 220km west of Melbourne, was cancelled as dangerous heatwave conditions and the threat of fire swept through the state.
In a statement issued Monday, organisers warned patrons to head home after the Country Fire Authority (CFA) upgraded its fire danger warning to “extreme” for Monday.
“We encourage everyone on site not to rush, calmly pack-up and depart either this (Sunday) or early (Monday),” reads a Pitch statement, posted on Instagram.
The intense heat also forced the cancelation of Melbourne’s Moomba parade on Monday, with organisers issuing a statement that its parade “will not go ahead to ensure the safety of performers, spectators and our workers and volunteers”.
According to Green Music Australia, the trade body for music and the environment in Australia, over 45 music festivals in these parts have been partially or fully cancelled due to weather impacts since 2015.
As the “climate crisis worsens,” reads a statement from the organisation, “our cultural events are becoming increasingly under threat. We need to address the climate crisis in order to protect our festivals and cultural scene.”
The 16th annual Golden Plains at Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre (from March 9-11) and Port Fairy Folk Festival (March 8-11) went ahead.