Dance party promoter says Melbourne has a drug problem
By Nui Te Koha
July 12, 2009 12:00am
THE world's biggest dance party promoter has scrapped a key Melbourne event after claiming the city has a drug problem.
Amsterdam-based events giant ID&T said a dance subculture that included GBH users had forced it out.
Trance Energy, an ID&T event attended by 10,000 revellers at Calder Park last Good Friday, was marred by 26 GBH overdoses.
"There is a small group in Melbourne who are stupid and take too many stupid drugs in a stupid way," ID&T director Duncan Stutterheim said.
"And it's a shame. We invested, we had a long-term vision, but in Melbourne we cannot do this.
"It's not responsible to go on . . . with this hardcore group who ruin events."
Mr Stutterheim said other cities that hosted Trance Energy did not have any GBH casualties.
"Don't ask me why Sydney can handle this music and be responsible and Melbourne cannot," he said.
Mr Stutterheim urged continuing discussions about drug dangers.
"The culture (in the Netherlands) encourages talking about these things," he said.
"I find in Australia it's different. They are not open about it. They don't address the problem. They shove it away."
Authorities have sided with Mr Stutterheim and applauded his tough stance.
Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman worked at Trance Energy last year.
"I was out there amongst it and it was a bloody disgrace," Mr Holman said. "But, as an event, organisers could not have done more.
"We gave them a health plan, told them what they needed on site and gave them a level of response."
Mr Holman blamed a hard dance and trance subculture in Melbourne, in which GBH use is rife.
"This drug causes grievous bodily harm," he said.
ID&T will focus on its flagship event in Melbourne, Sensation, which has a five-season New Year's Eve residency at Etihad Stadium.
Sensation, which debuted last year, was a runaway success with 45,000 partygoers and no incidents.
Mr Stutterheim will visit Melbourne in September to launch the new Sensation show, Ocean of White.
Police issued a statement on the Trance Energy decision, which said: "Police . . . do not believe drug taking at any event is acceptable."
Herald Sun