SYDNEY, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The New South Wales (NSW) State government have announced that drug dealers will be "held responsible for any deaths they cause" and face a maximum of 25 years in prison.
The tough new penalty comes with a host of other recommendations that were handed down on Tuesday by an expert panel convened in September, to advise the government on how to improve safety at music festivals after two drug-related deaths at a popular Sydney dance event.
In total, at least ten people have died from suspected drug overdoses at Australian music festivals in the past five years and while NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged that these festivals are a significant part of the state's economy and entertainment scene.
"We owe it to young people, and their parents and families, to make sure they are safe," she said.
"Drug dealers who prey on our young people, and seek to profit by peddling illicit substances at music festivals, are on notice."
Also set to be implemented by the government are tighter licensing requirements for the festival industry, stronger drug and alcohol education programs for young people and on-the-spot fines for drug possession at music festivals.
"Together with ongoing, high visibility policing at music festivals, these measures will send a very strong message that illegal drug dealing and drug use will not be tolerated in NSW," State Minister for Police Troy Grant said.
While organizations like the Australian Medical Association have previously urged the government to consider "pill-testing" as a safety measure at music festivals, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who was a member of the expert panel, decided to shelve the idea.
"There's no science behind what percent is safe to take," he said.
"From my perspective as a father, I think to myself would I ever test my kids drugs? Absolutely not."
