NSW Premier Calls For Ban After Two Die At Defqon.1 Festival In Sydney

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New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian promised to shut down the Australian version of the Netherlands EDM festival Defqon.1 after two patrons died from drug overdoses Sept. 15. 

Calling the deaths “absolutely tragic,” Berejiklian vowed, “I never want to see this event held in Sydney or NSW ever again — we will do everything we can to shut this down.”

A 23-year-old man and 21-year-old woman died in hospital after collapsing at the festival at 9 p.m.; 13 were hospitalized, and 700 out of a total crowd of 30,000 needed medical aid. Three remained on the critical list Sept. 17.  Two other people have died at the event in previous years.

The Sydney International Regatta Centre, the festival’s home since 2010, will no longer host the dance party. This year’s lineup included Coone, Headhunters, Da Tweekas, Andy The Core, Lilith, Mistortion and many others.

Promoters issued a statement that they were “deeply saddened” by the deaths and that “we are disappointed at the number of reported drug related incidents, we have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to drug use at the festival.”

The statement added, “Festival organisers are working closely and cooperating with the authorities regarding the fatalities and the number of medical presentations made during the evening, a full investigation is currently underway.”

Police said 335 searches resulted in 69 people found with drugs while 10 were arrested on charges of supplying.

Advocates of pill-testing at festivals again called for official approval, especially with the summer months coming up. But Berejiklian is standing firm, reiterating  her government has a “zero tolerance” stance toward drugs. “Anyone who advocates pill testing is giving the green light to drugs, that is absolutely unacceptable, there is no such thing as a safe drug,” she said.