Coroner To Hold Public Hearing After Recent Suspected Drug Overdoses At Music Festivals
Five people have died in as many months from suspected overdoses.
The Coroners Court is set to hold a public hearing next week following the deaths of five people in as many months from suspected drug overdoses at music festivals across Australia.
As Fairfax reports, acting State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan will participate in the hearing to take place on 22 January.
19-year-old Alex Ross-King died from a suspected overdose at FOMO Festival in Sydney last Saturday, while other suspected drug-related deaths in recent months include Justin Tam, 22, who ingested an "unknown substance" at Lost Paradise festival just a few weeks ago, Callum Brosnan, 19, at Sydney's Knockout Games Of Destiny dance party in December and Joseph Pham, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, who attended the Defqon event in Penrith last September.
Reports of the Coroner's public hearing comes only hours after the NSW Government was urged to allow a pill testing trial at Ultra Music Festival Australia in Sydney next month,.
Pill Testing Australia, the NSW Users and AIDS Association, which runs the DanceWize NSW program, say they are prepared to run a "pilot pill testing trial" at the dance festival taking place on 24 February.
"DanceWize NSW has interacted with thousands of young party goers in a short period of time. The views of young people are clear – the moment you tell them ‘don’t take that pill kids’, they switch off," CEO of NSW Health-funded agency NUAA, Mary Ellen Harrod, said.
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Meanwhile, over 7,000 people are expected to attend Keep Sydney Open's rally this weekend calling for pill testing at festivals.
Yesterday, Victoria's Rainbow Serpent festival issued a YouTube video urging government to "untie the hands of promoters" and introduce pill testing.
"We call on state governments around Australia to acknowledge the global evidence showing the benefits of pill testing and to untie the hands of promoters and allow us to deliver world’s best practice care for our patrons," festival organiser Tim Harvey said.
"We promise, changing your mind costs a lot less than human life."
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