SYDNEY, NSW – The New South Wales government has decided to continue the use of drug detection dogs and strip searches at music festivals, rejecting key recommendations from its own landmark Drug Summit report released earlier this year. The decision, announced on Tuesday, marks a divergence from expert advice that flagged these policing tactics as potentially harmful and ineffective.
Despite a comprehensive report urging a pause on these measures, particularly during the ongoing trial of drug checking services at festivals, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley stated that sniffer dogs and strip searches remain “important investigative tools” for law enforcement. The government cited “operational infeasibility” as a reason for not implementing the recommendation to cease their use. This stance directly contradicts findings from the summit, co-chaired by former political leaders Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden, which concluded that such high-visibility policing can escalate drug-related risks.
Experts and harm reduction advocates have long argued that the presence of drug-detection dogs can prompt dangerous behaviours, such as “preloading” – consuming all drugs at once before entering an event to avoid detection. This can increase the risk of overdose due to “panic consumption.” Data further casts doubt on the effectiveness of these methods, with an analysis by Harm Reduction Australia indicating that approximately 60% of searches following a positive indication from a sniffer dog do not result in the discovery of illicit substances. Similarly, only about one in ten strip searches in NSW has resulted in drugs being found. Critics, including the Law Society of NSW, have noted that while the government is moving forward with other reforms, the continued exercise of these “significant coercive powers” should be approached cautiously, especially in light of recent court judgments.
Harm Reduction Initiatives Advance
In contrast to its decision on festival policing, the NSW government is proceeding with several other drug reform initiatives informed by the Drug Summit. A 12-month trial of drug checking services at selected music festivals commenced in early 2025, allowing attendees to anonymously test substances for purity and potency to make safer choices. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to harm reduction, alongside the rollout of life-saving naloxone for opioid overdose prevention, which is now available in licensed venues as part of first aid responses. These measures reflect a growing trend in public health news towards evidence-based strategies for managing drug-related harm.
Medicinal Cannabis and Driving Under Review
The government has also indicated a willingness to explore changes related to medicinal cannabis. Following a summit recommendation, NSW is now considering “in principle” the introduction of a medical defence for individuals driving with prescribed cannabis in their system, provided they are not impaired. A government working group is assessing the evidence, reform options, and necessary safeguards for such a policy. This move aligns with a broader discussion trending around drug law reform, distinguishing between the presence of a substance and actual impairment while driving.
Criticism Mounts Over Festival Policing Decision
Advocacy groups have expressed significant disappointment with the government’s decision to maintain drug dogs and strip searches at festivals. Uniting NSW.ACT has described the response as “profoundly disappointing” and a “lack of vision and boldness,” suggesting the government “squibbed it” by not fully embracing the summit’s recommendations for a more health-focused approach. The decision comes despite a successful class action lawsuit regarding unlawful strip searches, highlighting ongoing community concerns about police tactics at music events.
The NSW government’s response signifies a bifurcated approach to drug policy, embracing harm reduction and reform in areas like drug checking and medicinal cannabis while maintaining traditional law enforcement methods at major public gatherings. The ongoing news related to these evolving policies underscores the complex balance between public safety, individual rights, and evidence-based health strategies in contemporary society.
