More than a dozen revellers overdose at east coast music festivals

The condition of several people taken to hospital in critical conditions from Australia Day music festivals in Sydney has improved.

Six young men aged under 25 were in critical or serious conditions leaving the Hardcore Till I Die festival at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday while eight people left the Electric Gardens Festival in Centennial Park in an ambulance.

But by Sunday morning, all 14 were either in stable conditions or had been discharged from hospital.

Drugs were thought to be a factor in 10 of the 14 cases, NSW Health said.

Each festival had extra high-level critical care medical teams and more harm reduction measures, such as roving drug educators and free electrolyte drinks.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, whose government footed the bill for the extra protection, said she hoped and prayed people were starting to get the message to not take illicit drugs.

“I know some people are advocating one solution or another but there isn’t one solution,” she told reporters on Sunday.

“It’s a complex issue.

“We want young people to feel they can have a conversation, we want young people to get help when they need it.”

The premier and health department thanked staff and volunteers at the two festivals for ensuring attendees’ safety.

“The additional critical care staff contributed significantly to the positive outcomes seen overnight,” a NSW Health spokeswoman said.

Police charged seven people, including a 19-year-old South Australian woman, with drug supply at the HTID festival while one Electric Gardens attendee was also accused of that offence.

At least 75 people were caught in total for drug-related offences, with 68 issued criminal infringement notices and others given cautions, police say.

Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant said the government needed to wait to see if the new on-the-spot fines for drug possession have any effect.

He said there was no doubt the police force’s disruption of three large drug operations in the lead up to the festivals had an impact in the quantity of drugs in and around these festivals.

Extra safety measures will also be in place at hip-hop festival Rolling Loud at Sydney Showgrounds on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 22 people were caught with drugs at the notorious Rainbow Serpent Festival in Victoria on Saturday.

The Herald Sun reported that five offenders were arrested for a range of offences including drug trafficking, and possessing the proceeds of crime and counterfeit cash.
Two people were taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital in serious but stable conditions after suffering possible overdoses on Saturday.