The deceased man was found unconscious in a tent shortly after 11pm on Saturday night. It’s time for Penrith to move on from Defqon.1.Another eight attendees were taken to hospital after attending the three-day Defqon 1 techno dance party. I feel for the festival’s organisers, who have actually given a fair bit back to the Penrith community over the past decade.īut the few have ruined it for the many.
This was very much the festival’s third strike. The State Government allowed its venue to be used again and again for Defqon.1 despite deaths at the 20 events. Usually I’m a huge advocate for personal responsibility, and I think the State Government has well and truly overstepped the mark in certain areas when it comes to ‘bans’, such as the greyhound saga from a couple of years ago and the lock-out laws, which have killed Sydney’s nightlife. If only the Greens would use their very small but often powerful voice to advocate for people to not take drugs rather than have a shot at those who are trying to find a way to save lives and prevent deaths at such festivals as Defqon.1. The weak response of “people are going to do it anyway” is not the reaction we should be aiming for. The solution to not overdosing from drugs and potentially dying at a music festival is pretty simple, albeit an unpopular one in today’s society. They are intended to discourage drug use altogether, which is a much better message to be pushing than your dangerous pro-drugs stance. On his website, Shoebridge says: “Drugs sniffer dogs do not encourage safe drug taking.” Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge tweeted: “Pill testing saves lives, not drug dogs.
The out-of-touch Greens – who normally love banning things – are leading the charge for advocating pill testing and hence giving the green light to festival-goers taking unsafe and illegal drugs. Why in the world would we want to make taking drugs more attractive?Īpart from the long-term impacts of addiction, it is often the cocktail of drugs and alcohol that causes the most damage. Pill testing simply gives the green light to taking illicit drugs, and provides a false sense of security. Not taking the drugs at all could have prevented the deaths too. The lunacy of those suggesting that ‘pill testing’ could have prevented the deaths last weekend is flabbergasting. Those who are angry at the festival being forced out of Penrith can only blame those individuals who choose to sell and take illicit drugs. It is understandable that the Premier and Sports Minister are uncomfortable with an event taking place at a community facility that results in the deaths of two young people. Defqon.1 underway in Penrith last weekend. The Government has a role here to ensure that the former Olympic site is being used responsibly and quite clearly it isn’t. What’s being forgotten in the debate this week is that Defqon.1 takes place on State Government-controlled land at the Regatta Centre. This festival has had nearly a decade to get it right and can’t.
Defcon one festival 2015 drivers#
No, we don’t ban all drivers because some speed and cause crashes.īut at some point, enough is enough. Yes, it’s a personal choice to take drugs and therefore take the risks. Yes, it’s a small minority ruining it for the majority. I get all the arguments against banning the event, many of which are quite logical. This festival has been problematic for years, with hundreds upon hundreds of drug arrests and charges, and a death toll sitting at four from the past six events.Īfter almost a decade in Penrith at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, it’s quite clear that the well-intentioned organisers can’t escape the drug culture this festival attracts. The State Government’s move to kick the Defqon.1 music festival out of Penrith may seem like a kneejerk reaction or even a little over the top, but in the end Gladys Berejiklian and Stuart Ayres have got this one right.
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