New South Wales Premier Chris Minns doesn’t want to touch the heavy-hitting recommendations from the state’s recent drug summit report. On this report, first published in 2025. The report recommended the government axe sniffer dogs and strip searches at music festivals. During the National Action Plan’s development, it vigorously pushed for the inclusion of harm reduction strategies such as pill testing. Sniffer dogs will be deployed at the Midnight Mafia festival occurring this weekend at Sydney Olympic Park. Their mission is to detect user possession or not required but to, in fact, detect drug supply.
The Midnight Mafia festival will be only the second event in Australia to test pills on site. This comes on the heels of the successful debut of NSW Health’s drug checking service at the Yours and Owls festival in Wollongong earlier this March. Although this trial is an important move towards harm reduction, Premier Minns is still not ready to commit to the summit’s recommendations in full. He explained that he didn’t want to give a message that would incite drug use from the people attending the festival.
Reluctance to Change Policies
Premier Minns clearly expressed his concerns about the broader consequences of taking a more liberal stance towards drug enforcement at festivals. “I’m not prepared to say in relation to this big music festival, ‘Look it’s a big green light, if you’re going to ingest drugs, the police aren’t going to be there’”, he emphasized. This statement underscores his belief that we all must retain a sobering spirit when dealing with drug use in mass public events.
He went on to explain the possible repercussions for vigilantly permitting pill testing measures if left unchecked by strict police regulation. “I think that would send the wrong message, and I think it would have the unintended consequence of seeing more people take and ingest the drugs — not less,” said Minns. His administration’s stance indicates a preference for maintaining traditional policing methods rather than fully embracing the recommendations proposed by experts and advocates.
Aside from his reluctance, Minns mentioned logistical difficulties that would come with introducing pill testing. “Obviously it would be counterproductive if you had a tent … where drug testing took place, or pill testing took place, and then the individual was immediately nabbed as they walked out of the tent,” he stated. This fear highlights the challenge of reconciling harm reduction strategies with law enforcement goals.
Sniffer Dogs on Patrol
Even as the state continues to move forward with allowing pill testing, sniffer dogs are still going to be used at the Midnight Mafia festival. Given the role these canine units will play, the intention should be to prioritize supply detection over user possession. In response to our inquiries, HSU Events issued the following statement to explain their approach relevant to illegal drugs. “HSU Events do not condone the possession or use of illegal drugs,” they stated, reinforcing their commitment to safety while hosting large events.
The use of sniffer dogs has divided drug reform advocates. Critics of the proposals claim that such measures would discourage people from seeking help or using harm reduction services offered at festivals. Pill testing and traditional drug enforcement are opposites. This public policy battle highlights the continuing tension and confusion over drug use within entertainment venues.
Continued Advocacy for Reform
Advocates for reforming our drug laws have raised their voices vigorously. They advocate for a complete, systemic change to how authorities should address drug use at festivals. Ms. Faehrmann has been vocal in condemning the government’s apparent unwillingness to implement the report’s main recommendations that emerged following the drug summit. She criticized the administration’s approach as “politically palatable.” Calls for reform have reached a deafening crescendo. This increase comes after an inquest into the music festival deaths of 2019 revealed that 24% of drugs were discovered in pat downs.
As the Midnight Mafia festival approaches, stakeholders continue to monitor the effectiveness of both pill testing and traditional enforcement measures. This weekend’s event would be the most powerful yet. It will inform future policy decisions relating to drug use and harm reduction initiatives in New South Wales.
