Sydney’s annual Deqon.1 festival welcomes a whopping 65,000 people on a daily basis throughout the course their event. In the crowd, you will find a vast array individuals, ultimately, creating the beloved atmosphere that electronic dance music festival is well-known for.
This year’s edition greeted the same hardstyle-loving music enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all fun and games as it has recently been reported that two partygoers have died from suspected drug overdoses, and three others remain in critical condition in the Nepean Hospital.
Adding to the controversy, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has chimed in by stating,
She continued by giving her personal opinion regarding the touchy subject pill testing. She declared that it is “not a solution”, and that “anyone who advocates pill testing is giving the green light to drugs. There is no such thing as a safe drug, and unfortunately, when young people think there is, it has tragic consequences.”
Her point view has caused quite a stir since it has been released, and many have retaliated as they do not believe that she is correct – including harassment minimization group Sniff Off, and one the father’s who had lost their son during the 2015 edition the fest’.
Known for their campaigns against police harassment focusing on how they ten execute “pointless ritual humiliation”, Sniff Off has responded to the Premier’s statement by posting,
In addition, they also revealed, what some may find to be, interesting facts directly related to the deaths.
Furthermore, Nigel Pauljevic, the twenty-six-year-old who passed away after taking ecstasy at Defqon.1 in 2015, truly has the most caring father, Mita Pauljevic, as he has recently called on the Premier to not close down the festival.
Although the opinions will continue to keep circulating online, one thing is for certain, the tragic deaths the 23-year-old man from western Sydney and the 21-year-old woman from Victoria will not soon be forgotten. We would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends the victims as they live through this difficult time.
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