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

Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024

1st House

2nd House

Law

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

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.

News articles and press releases