Police warnings about drug use at New Year's music festivals are not being heard as another two suspected drug overdoses have been reported, this time in Victoria.
The suspected drug overdoses of two males in their early twenties occurred at Beyond the Valley music festival east of Melbourne in separate incidents.
They come just days after the fatal overdose of 22-year old, Queenslander, Joshua Tam in NSW at the Lost Paradise Music Festival at Glenworth Valley.
Joshua Tam died after a suspected drug overdose at the NSW Central Coast music festival. Source: Facebook
A man and woman were also hospitalized after ingesting an unknown substance and becoming sick at the same festival which advertised itself as a drug-free event.
Police in both states have ramped up efforts to stop drug use at New Year's festivals as the fatal overdose reignited calls for pill testing at festivals.
Extra security measures at Victoria's Beyond the Valley Festival
Victoria police had extra police and sniffer dogs at the Beyond the Valley Festival, while the NSW government has reaffirmed its strong stance against drug suppliers following last weekend's death.
New Year's Falls Festival organisers have also issued a warning to attendees regarding a "dangerous orange pill" currently in circulation across Australia.
They reminded revellers of the potentially fatal risks that come with drug use and encouraged them to seek immediate medical attention should they feel unwell.
Falls Festival runs at Marion Bay in Tasmania, Byron Bay in NSW and Lorne on Victoria's Surf Coast.
Greens party says pill testing 'saves lives'
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said recent overdoses and reports of a 'dangerous' orange pill' by the New Year's festival organisers once again showed the need for a different approach.
"An early warning system could save lives," she said.
"If a more dangerous batch is detected, one pill tested could mean many lives saved."
Police on Monday urged those heading to Field Day, held in Sydney's Domain on January 1, to steer clear of drugs.
Last year 160 people were charged with drug possession at the event.
NSW Premier under pressure to shift stance
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian remains against pill testing, while Labor leader Michael Daley has committed to a "drug summit" that will consider advice from all experts including on pill testing if elected.
The opposition leader said massive police numbers and significant drug seizures at Gosford had failed to prevent the death - and that was a sign other options needed to be considered.
"Despite the best efforts of police, parents and school teachers who say 'don't do it', they're still doing (drugs) en masse," he told ABC on Monday.
"If you're going to ask experts and the wider community to have a discussion you've got to talk about all of the options that are available."
Brisbane man Joshua Tam died after taking an unknown substance at the festival Source: Facebook
The 22-year-old man's death comes after three others died from suspected overdoses at music festivals in NSW earlier this year.
The NSW government announced new licensing regulations to help combat the issue, but they won't be in place until after the summer.
The Berejiklian government also proposed laws whereby drug dealers could be jailed for up to 25 years if people who buy their drugs subsequently die.
- with AAP.
NSW police have warned festivalgoers against taking drugs ahead of a Sydney music festival following another fatal overdose at the Lost Paradise festival. Source: Facebook
