'I've taken MDMA at dance parties and festivals': Greens MP, 48, admits to taking drugs over the last three decades - as she calls for 'out of touch' politicians to legalise pill testing
- Greens MP Cate Faehrmann openly admitted to using party drugs since her 20s
- Ms Faehrmann said she's used ecstasy or MDMA at dance parties, music festivals
- Claimed to know 'journalists, tradies, lawyers' and others who have done same
- She took aim at NSW government's zero-tolerance approach to illicit drug use
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has admitted to using party drugs as she called on politicians to 'get real' about pill testing in the wake of a string of overdose deaths.
Ms Faehrmann, 48, said she has taken ecstasy or MDMA at dance parties and music festivals since her 20s and could 'vividly remember' the first time she used.
'I was with friends at a club in Brisbane in the early 90s. We danced all night to house music, talked nonsense with strangers, deep and meaningfully with each other. A month or so later we did it again. And again,' she wrote for the Herald on Monday.
She claimed to know 'journalists, tradies, lawyers, public servants, doctors, police and yes, politicians' who have all done the same.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has openly admitted to using party drugs as she called on politicians to 'get real' about pill testing
Ms Faehrmann, 48, said she has taken ecstasy or MDMA at dance parties and music festivals since her 20s. A protestor is seen at a rally in Sydney on Saturday
Ms Faehrmann took aim at the government's zero-tolerance approach to illicit drug use and called for testing at Australian music festivals.
The state upper house crossbencher slammed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for saying 'there is no such thing as a safe illegal drug'.
Ms Faehrmann said policing and sniffer dogs weren't stopping people from taking drugs into events - and instead led to revellers swallowing multiple MDMA pills or caps before walking through the gates.
'They do this to avoid detection from sniffer dogs. It's not rocket science, then, to draw the conclusion that sniffer dogs are putting young people's lives at risk,' she wrote.
Ms Faehrmann (pictured) claimed to know 'journalists, tradies, lawyers, public servants, doctors, police and yes, politicians' who have all done the same
A number of politicians, including Greens leader Richard Di Natale, have joined the campaign for a harm minimisation approach (stock image)
Ms Faehrmann said drug cooks are increasingly putting deadly substances in ecstasy and MDMA caps, but 'people continue to take the stuff in droves'.
'That's why we need pill testing and other harm minimisation measures to keep our young people safe. This means greater numbers of roving drug safety personnel and well-resourced medical tents at dance festivals,' she wrote.
Ms Faehrmann told Sky News on Monday morning the best option for young people is not to use illicit substances, but said lawmakers must acknowledge that 'they will, in droves'.
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'So let's keep them safe when they do it. We know that the vast majority of people will take MDMA and they won't suffer overdoses. We have to acknowledge that as well,' she said.
'Lots of people go out to dance parties [and] they take this substance - they do it because they know that generally they will probably have a good time. That is an uncomfortable truth.
'I will get a lot of flak for saying it. But it's about time we spoke the truth on this. My first message to young people is the safest thing to do is not to take illicit drugs. But I also understand that some of you may want to and some of you may be doing so.
'I was one of those people - I understand it. Because you're doing so, let's make it as safe as possible.'
Pill testing supporters are seen gathered at a rally outside Sydney Town Hall on January 19
Ms Faehrmann said drug cooks are increasingly putting deadly substances in ecstasy and MDMA caps but 'people continue to take the stuff in droves'
A number of politicians, including Greens leader Richard Di Natale, have joined the campaign for a harm minimisation approach to drugs.
'How many more young people need to pay with their lives before we put in place pill testing, which we know saves lives?' Senator Di Natale said.
Pill testing involves users anonymously submitting samples for forensic analysis and feedback on the purity and composition of their drugs so they can make an informed decision on whether or not to take them.
Melbourne's Port Phillip council, which includes the popular St Kilda entertainment district, has called on the Victorian government to allow and help fund drug testing at participating venues.
'Two years ago the Port Phillip council said that we supported the use of a trial. Since then there's been a bitter harvest of dead bodies around the country,' Mayor Dick Gross told the Nine Network on Monday.
'It's unacceptable that governments turn their back on this any more and I know that it is revolting to some people that we would aid and abet pill taking.'
The state upper house crossbencher slammed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for saying 'there is no such thing as a safe illegal drug'. Protesters are seen in Sydney on Saturday
A supporter of pill testing is seen during the Reclaim The Streets Rally in Sydney on Saturday
Mr Gross said the prohibition model had failed and acknowledged testing was not a panacea for all drug deaths.
'The testing has to make sure and stress at all times that it's better not to take the pills,' he said.
'But you are not going to stop people taking the pills, so you minimise harm. You never eradicate harm.'
He pointed to the harm minimisation programs for the Richmond injecting room and needle exchange programs.
Alex Ross-King, 19, (pictured) died from a suspected drug overdose at Sydney's FOMO festival on January 12
Josh Tam, 22, (pictured) died after taking an unknown substance at Lost Paradise festival in Gosford, New South Wales on December 29
Reason Party's Fiona Patten will be joined by other crossbench members of the Legislative Council and health experts on Monday at parliament to call on the Andrews government to approve a trial.
The calls follow a string of overdose deaths at Australian music festivals.
Alex Ross-King, 19, died from a suspected drug overdose at Sydney's FOMO festival on January 12.
Josh Tam, 22, died after taking an unknown substance at Lost Paradise festival in Gosford, north of Sydney, on December 29.
Callum Brosnan, 19, from Baulkham Hills, was found in a 'distressed state' at the Knockout Games of Destiny Dance Party at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, Sydney and later died in hospital.
The deaths of revellers Joseph Phan, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, at Defqon. 1. music festival on September 15 shocked the country and threw the future of the popular Sydney festival into doubt.
The deaths of revellers Joseph Phan, 23, and Diana Nguyen, 21, at Defqon. 1. music festival on September 15 shocked the country
Callum Brosnan, 19, (pictured) from Baulkham Hills, was found in a 'distressed state' at the Knockout Games of Destiny Dance Party at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, Sydney
