Outrage over ‘messed up’ Mardi Gras strip searches as MP scolds police for attacking WorldPride revelers with sniffer dogs
- Greens NSW MP condemns strip searches at Mardi Gras
- Cate Faehrmann says they cause risky drug behavior
A NSW Greens MP used a pre-election public health debate to denounce the use of sniffer dogs and strip searches at Mardi Gras and officially announce the party’s plan to legalize vapes.
Cate Faehrmann said seeing people in line at Mardi Gras being taken away and searched showed how “confused” the government’s priorities were regarding meaningful public health reform.
“The government has refused to listen to the experts of the corona investigation into music festival deaths … and act on key recommendations that will reduce damage and save lives,” she said on Monday.
“This just forces young people to consume all their drugs at once.”
The comments came at a forum organized by the NSW Public Health Association of Australia, attended by Ms Faehrmann alongside outgoing health minister Brad Hazzard, opposition health spokesman Ryan Park and independent candidate for Lane Cove Victoria Davidson.
A NSW Greens MP says police searches and sniffer dogs risk causing harmful drug behavior to avoid being caught
Ms Faehrmann unveiled a plan by her party to legalize nicotine vapes for people over the age of 18 to help reduce the harm associated with the devices.
Mr Hazzard, who is retiring from politics after the election, called vaping “abhorrent” and said there are no easy answers to reduce vaping in the community.
“A lot of people don’t realize they’re actually smoking the chemicals in antifreeze with about 500 different flavors,” he said.
Ms Davidson said there was a way for legal access to e-cigarettes as a cessation aid, but there were other methods already approved by the TGA that should be prioritized.
All parties advocated preventive health measures to reduce pressure on hospitals and other services.
“The demands on the health and hospital sector cannot stay as they are,” Park said.
Ms Davidson pointed out that Australia was and should continue to be an international leader in public health campaigns, including skin cancer prevention, tobacco control, cancer screening and safe driving measures.
All candidates were against advertising junk food to young people in public places such as public transport in principle, but Mr Hazzard said regulation at a national level was needed.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann (pictured) said the NSW government has not learned lessons from drug deaths at music festivals
Members of the Sydney Swans Football Club and LA Rams cheerleaders walk in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday
“There have been many discussions with the state and territory health ministers and we all agree that that should be done on a national basis,” he said.
Ms Faehrmann congratulated the coalition government for pushing for a cashless playing card in NSW and called on Labor to commit to a similar strategy.
Mr Park said Labor had developed a range of opposition initiatives, including a 12-month trial of a cashless playing card.
‘I don’t want to sit here and destroy pubs and clubs. But I recognize the damage gambling addiction does,” he said.
“I think what we’ve done is a sensible first step.”
Mr Hazzard noted that the club industry had a positive impact on many communities, saying a ‘balancing exercise’ needed to be done to reduce slots revenue.
