'They're illegal for a reason': Gladys Berejiklian dodges questions on 'over policing' at music festivals – saying young people shouldn't take drugs
- An inquest into six drug-related deaths in NSW music festivals is underway
- The NSW Premier didn't guarantee the recommendations would be installed
- Gladys Berejiklian said she was taking a 'holistic approach' to the drug deaths
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has dodged questions on whether 'over policing' at music festivals might be responsible for young people swallowing multiple pills, saying the strongest message to ensure lives aren't lost is 'don't take illegal substances'.
A coronial inquest is currently scrutinising the drug-related deaths of six people at music festivals between December 2017 and January 2019.
On Sunday, the premier said she was looking forward to receiving the recommendations that come from that inquiry and the ongoing special NSW inquiry into the drug ice.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has dodged questions on whether 'over policing' at music festivals might be responsible for young people swallowing multiple pills
However, Ms Berejiklian stopped short of promising the government would put in place the Coroner's future recommendations before the upcoming summer music festival.
'It depends on what the recommendations have been and I don't think anyone can accuse the state government of not taking a strict approach to music festivals,' she told reporters on Sunday.
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'We want to get the balance right, we want people to enjoy themselves, we want those festivals to continue and increase in number but we also need to ensure lives are not lost when that could be prevented.
'And the strongest message to anybody is don't take illegal substances, they're illegal for a reason.'
Alex Ross-King, 19, (right) is one of the six deaths currently being investigated by the inquest - pictured with her father Matt King (left)
When asked whether there was a link between 'over policing' and young people swallowing multiple pills at festivals Ms Berejiklian said the government was taking a 'holistic approach' to the issue that included not only a police response but the health and education sectors as well.
'Again, we just extend our sympathies to families who lost loved ones recently at these music festivals and we've seen in recent times how the inquest is bringing up those tragedies for them and our hearts go out to them,' she said.
'I don't want to see that happen again, I don't want to see families go through that enormous pain and ongoing pain.'
