AusLeisure

Following the death of a teenage festival goer at its Knockout Games of Destiny event in Sydney at the weekend, promoter Harder Styles United is set to be hit with tough new licence conditions including on-the-spot fines for drug use

The organiser’s licence to operate its next festival is under review by the NSW Liquor and Gaming Authority, which is also looking at additional and stricter licence conditions for its next event Hardcore Til I Die at the Sydney Showgrounds on Australia Day.

On-the-spot $400 fines for drug possession are one of the measures being considered.

At present festival-goers caught with a small amount of drugs are issued with a court attendance notice.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told The Daily Telegraph she wanted young people to enjoy dance festivals “but we also want them to be safe”.

She added “that is why we have enacted a range of reforms, recommended by an expert panel, to improve safety at dance festivals, including much tougher penalties for the criminals who sell drugs at these events.”

Premier Berejiklian also rejected the idea of pill testing at music festivals.

Image: Knockout Games of Destiny.

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2nd October 2016 - More than 100 drug arrests at Sydney Listen Out festival

4th January 2016 - NSW Premier Baird threatens to shut down festivals over drug use

3rd January 2016 - WA Health issues drug and alcohol warning to summer festival fans

6th December 2015 - Another festival death at Adelaide Stereosonic music event

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