Stereosonic music festival goers have displayed “disappointing” behaviour.
Stereosonic is an annual music festival that travels around Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. It presents a mix of electronic and dance music and in the first show in Sydney, it attracted 48,000 people.
It’s meant to be fun. For dancing. For a good time.
But, overnight NSW Police have confirmed that a 25-year-old from Oyster Bay died in hospital after suffering injuries while attending Stereosonic. How and why she died is still not known.
Another person, aged just 22, was rushed to hospital in critical condition and has since been in an induced coma.
And, police made 69 drug related arrests at the event yesterday.
The NSW Police had to engage a secure operation during Stereosonic, which included the police dog sniffer unit, Public Order and Riot Squad and Mounted Unit, in attempts to protect the festival’s safety.
Of those 69 who were arrested, 57 have been charged with possessing MDMA, which is the active element in ecstasy, and one with LSD. Another 23 were cautioned for cannabis use.
According to the ABC, two men were allegedly found trying to drill holes on the side of the building, where Stereosonic was being held, to hide drugs at the venue. The site was subsequently sent into lock down.
Watch one of the videos from Stereosonic. (Post continues after video.)
The commander of the Police Operation involved with Stereosonic and Assistant Commissioner, Frank Mennilli, has voiced his utter frustration at the festival goers.
Top Comments
Do they go to these festivals to enjoy the music or to take drugs? Never could understand why people need something so they can "enjoy" themselves. Why bother spending money on a ticket when they could just be sitting at home doing the same thing. Obviously the music is just an aside.
It's all about the atmosphere. It's always better to do drugs in company, and these events are full of people doing the same thing who are in the same headspace. Sure, it's about the drugs but the music, company and general atmosphere is what makes these festivals great.
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People always have and always will take drugs and drink alcohol. We might as well accept it, no matter how educated or aware of the risks they are, THEY STILL WILL DO IT. My vote is for making the process safe (drug testing booths) or even legalise recreational drugs - take the entire criminal element out of the equation and use the money that was allocated for police, courts, incarceration. Hospitalisations etc. and put it towards dealing with the reasons why people might be inclined to take drugs, and provide a taxable revenue stream as well.
I agree. Just like needle-exchange services, there are ways of minimising risk. This can have flow-on benefits for individuals and the entire community.