John Ferguson and Alice Coster
December 22, 2008 12:00am
News.com.au
THE Brumby Government has declared war on rogue rave operators after more than 30 people suffered life-threatening drug overdoses at a Festival Hall dance party.
Rave-party organisers with bad records who allow drugs to flourish at their events will be denied permits under tough new sanctions planned for the industry.
Permits will be harder to get for other operators after dozens of party-goers fell seriously ill at the X-clusive rave, which finished early yesterday.
A bad batch of the killer drug GHB, also known as GBH or Grievous Bodily Harm, was blamed for the emergency.
Twelve party-goers were taken to city hospitals in a serious condition, while others were taken to emergency departments by friends.
They suffered fits, breathing problems, dehydration and hyperthermia – a heat-related illness that also can kill.
Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson issued a warning to the dance party industry through the Herald Sun.
“If promoters are out there running events that are unsafe, then they are going to find it a lot harder to get a permit in the future,” he said.
“I’m putting them on notice.”
Ambulance officers were overwhelmed as they ferried party-goers to the Royal Melbourne and Alfred hospitals during Saturday night.
It took eight paramedics and ambulance staff to restrain one man.
Ambulance officers are alarmed the toxic batch of GHB has arrived as the music festival season gets into full swing.
Next week’s Sensation party at Telstra Dome is expected to attract tens of thousands of party-goers.
Mr Robinson said the number of casualties on Saturday was unacceptable.
“I expect, and I think the community expects, that if these events are going to be held, they are done so in an environment that is safe for the people who are attending,” he said.
“I’ll be having private discussions with the Director of Liquor Licensing this week about tougher sanctions and stricter permit conditions but this is a warning that they are on notice.”
GHB claimed its first fatality in Victoria in 2005 when nurse Belinda Davey died in a drug dealer’s car outside a city dance club.
Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman warned it was only a matter of time before another party-goer died.
“This is a very dangerous drug,” he said.
“It can absolutely kill you and there are recorded deaths from it. It’s called grievous bodily harm and that’s what it does to you.
“The seriousness of some of these people that presented themselves on Saturday night really concerned us and it’s only a matter of time before we get a death.”
Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Education Australia, Paul Dillon, said GHB was a lethal drug.
“It can kill, and has killed. People are really playing Russian roulette with their lives.”
Dozens of party-goers were taken to hospital after two rave parties at Kryal Castle last year.
Police Inspector David Blencowe denied suggestions police should have shut down Saturday night’s event.
Up to 2000 party-goers filled Festival Hall for the drug-fuelled dance party.
Police face a huge task on New Year’s Eve for the Sensation event.
“Certainly with an event like that I would imagine there would be significant police resources deployed and there would be a number of proactive steps taken, as well as trying to actually police the event,” he said.
Organisers of Sensation distanced themselves from Saturday night’s emergency.
“Sensation has asked people not to take drugs and are doing anything police and safety officers have asked,” spokeswoman Erin Jameson said.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle slammed irresponsible rave-party operators.
“You don’t give permits to people for these rave parties unless they can show us a great track record in managing large numbers of kids at a rave party,” he said.
