Mandatory Pill Testing and Safety Rules for Music Festivals with Over 5000 People

Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024

1st House

2nd House

Law

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

All music festivals hosting more than 5,000 attendees must provide on-site drug testing services and harm reduction education.
For festivals with 5,000–10,000 attendees, at least 2 doctors and 10 paramedics must be present.
For festivals with over 10,000 attendees, at least 4 doctors and 20 paramedics are required.
Free, easily accessible water stations and shaded areas must be provided at all festivals, with a minimum of one station per 2,500 attendees.
Festival organizers must report any drug-related deaths or hospitalizations to NSW Health within 24 hours of the incident.
For higher-risk festivals (based on past incidents or location), the bill mandates One security guard per 100 attendees for festivals assessed as high risk.
Repeated non-compliance with safety standards (such as inadequate medical or security staffing) will result in an automatic 6-month suspension of the festival organiser\'s festival license.
The fines for organizers who fail to meet medical, security, or harm reduction obligations, will go up from $50,000 to $150,000 for serious violations.

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