Drug and Alcohol Incidents

Ms COOK (Fisher) (16:26): I wanted to speak today on a subject that is dear to my heart after having some reflection over summer around my reasons for being here. In Australia summer is intrinsically linked to celebrations of Christmas, family times, beaches, festivals and happiness; but unfortunately for many in our state happiness does turn to tragedy as a consequence of alcohol or drug related incidents. Our lives change forever, and my family and friends know this all too well.

Last year, our southern community was shocked by the drug induced death of 22 year-old Jarrod Almond. He lived only 500 metres from my home. He went out one night for fun and made a decision which saw him dead by the end of that weekend. His family have been left to grieve for a lifetime. In December, I was again devastated by the drug deaths both in Sydney and then in Adelaide at Stereosonic's festival—young people to never live their dreams and families left to wonder why and to grieve.

I submitted an opinion piece, which I want to read in its entirety, particularly for those opposite who chose to take one sentence out of context and unsuccessfully and ridiculously politicise it for their own gain. It is an issue in front of mind for parents, youth, health and community workers, police and educators, so here it is.

Every time I hear about a young life lost I feel crushed and heartbroken for family and friends. My heart goes out to the family of a teenager who lost his life here in Adelaide, Stefan Woodward, and also the family of Sylvia Choi, who lost her life in Sydney last weekend. Music festivals are an important part of growing up, and Stereosonic is today's Woodstock. For a long time, drug taking has been part of the scene. Substance abuse is a centuries-old problem, but the drugs have become a lot harder, more dangerous and harder to combat.

Festivals are not the problem, and we need to be wary of reactionary calls to shut them down or pin blame on the organisers who have worked very hard to provide water, shelter and medical responders at these venues. The vast majority of attendees get home safely. We need to ensure that we have the safest venues possible. Shutting down festivals risks pushing them underground and reviving the culture of the rave, which is basically a pop-up festival run often in unused warehouses without any regulation.

Whilst the reports on the deaths have not been finalised, it is widely reported that both the people who passed away were taking the illicit drug ecstasy, which is a common party drug and which has unfortunately become part of the scene at Australia's music festivals, as well as other illicit drugs such as methamphetamines. Drugs are not unique to festivals. We see them in licensed venues and in homes as well.

Drugs and alcohol are at the heart of most social issues such as community violence, domestic violence, antisocial and other criminal behaviours. Like all social issues, we must have a measured and evidence-based response to them. Social change needs government, non-government, parents and peers to work together towards a solution that addresses primary prevention, harm minimisation and legislative response. Parents must educate themselves so that they can have informed conversations with their kids. Educators must use engaging formats to involve school students in programs that will leave a lasting impression, and other agencies must target young adults and remind them also of these messages.

Festival organisers must keep working with all sectors to ensure all these harm minimisation approaches such as the warning messages, adequate water, shelter and medical responders are front and centre at all events. Young people are hardwired to take risks. It is up to us, the community, to be ready to respond to changes in behaviour and habits that make these risks so dangerous.

Is our zero tolerance policy causing more harm than good? Are we doing the best in terms of implementing harm minimisation strategies? Of course, we need to stop drugs being sold. We need to do as much as possible to stop dealers getting into festivals, and punishment must also be a deterrent, but what about our approach to the attendees of these festivals?

There is conjectural evidence that an overbearing police presence and zero tolerance policies are forcing partygoers to take unnecessary risks, such as overloading on drugs before the festival, which are having a greater health impact on users. I do not support yet the implementation of strategies like tablet testing stations, as I see little evidence so far that this works and it sends mixed messages that drugs can be safe when I do not think anyone can say that categorically, but we do need to challenge our thinking.

The answers are not easy. Organisers, government, partygoers and the community need to all step up and work together to ensure that we have the safest community possible and we stop these needless drug-related tragedies. Implementation of evidence-based, harm minimisation health and education policies born out of community engagement will ensure that our kids come home, and that is why I entered this place.