Lawmaker pushback from an incident in Melbourne could drastically alter the live music landscape throughout throughout the rest of the state. In response to the GHB-related hospitalizations of over 20 at Electric Parade in February, an amendment to the Major Sporting Events Act may enable Victorian police to search anyone attending a music festival.
According to the Herald Sun, the proposed legislation would grant police officers greater powers at events in which police have “intelligence of drug problems.” Among the gatherings in the Australian state of Victoria whose attendees could potentially be subjected to such searches are Rainbow Serpent, Pitch, Babylon and Let Them Eat Cake.
The proposal has reignited an ongoing local debate on harm reduction, whose proponents advocate drug testing and education as more practical alternatives to the war on drugs. Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville dismissed their attitudes in a statement made to the Sun. “As a parent, I wouldn’t want someone telling my son that this drug is safe when it can’t be guaranteed,” she said. “I’d like to prevent drugs from being purchased altogether in those situations.”
In May, a separate extension of the Major Sporting Events Act was proposed by lawmakers with the goal of reducing the number of ticket scalpers targeting Victorian events.
Source: Mixmag
