Petition

Background (preamble extended & referenced)

We are a group of Home Owners, Mums, Dads, Grandparents, Family Members and Youths who are opposed to the alienation and marginalisation of youth in Australia.

Our purpose is to oppose the war on youth culture which has caused community witch-hunts to shut down anything and everything that youth find even remotely entertaining or interesting - thus driving them further towards unfulfilling and deeply depressing lives where drugs and/or alcohol fill the void.

The current attack on youth culture is only amplified by the 'tough stance on drugs' and its seemingly apparent correlation to the latest fashionable trend of Electronic Dance Music (EDM), the events of which currently hang in the balance. However, the 2014 (NDARC) Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System figures indicate (for example) ecstasy consumption occurs 95% more frequently elsewhere (ie: not at EDM venues) and 63% of consumption occurs at pop-music venues, live bands and pubs. Additionally, a previous study in 2004 reveals the majority of users said they 'scored' from a friends house, not at EDM events.

There can be no doubt, war on EDM is war on youth. Facebook data reveals more than 80% of EDM followers are youth aged between 14 and 24. Equally, there can be no doubt that youth are the most at risk to substance abuse, a fact that is further supported by the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC), Australia’s national peak body representing young people (12 - 25 years) and who also promote the wellbeing of young Australians.

The Australian Drug Foundation further reveals that Young Australians (aged 14–24) first try: - cannabis at 16.7 years on average - ecstasy at 18.2 years on average - hallucinogens at 18.5 years on average - ketamine at 19.4 years on average - meth/amphetamines at 18.6 years on average

Fuelling community vexation, NSW Premier Mike Baird, NSW Police Minister Troy Grant and numerous Police Commanders and Commissioners have all repeatedly impressed on the public that the nature of the entertainment [EDM] is intrinsically linked to illicit drug use, even though NDARC data does not support these claims. In fact, of approx 170 expected preventable deaths from methamphetamine use in 2015 only 5 (ecstacy) deaths occured at EDM events.

Additionally, EDM events have been commonly labeled 'a breeding ground for wild behaviour, sexual assaults, violence and underage drinking' among other derogatory attacks against youth. Being the target of authorities for half a decade, Australians in every State are being prevented from enjoyment of their own homes/properties and many tax-payers are loosing business due to closures for no other reason than hosting dance parties for youth.

Throughout history it has been proved time and again that attacks on entertainment and music are ineffective in addressing drug-culture. The first example was in the late 1930s, where Harry J Anslinger (Director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics) claimed 'satanic jazz and swing' were the direct result of Marijuana use. It is reported Mr Anslinger set about a similar attack on the US entertainment sector, achieving absolutely nothing towards eliminating Marijuana, which today is used by almost half the population of the US.

Petition Requests (explained)

As a unified minority, we strongly oppose the Premier and the Police Minister's outdated philosophies which serve no other purpose than to alienate and marginalise Australian youth and those who support them. For this reason, we fully support the Green's Drug Reform recommendations as, not only realistic solutions to addressing drug-culture, but also as the sharing of the responsibility for promoting ever fashionable binge-culture in Australia.

Conversely, the proposition that family members and every day Australians should police substance abuse problems or be held criminally accountable is one we cannot support. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties describes this very scenario as a 'dangerous precedent' which could potentially cause more harm to Australian communities than good.

Rather than shutting down or driving up the prices of youth entertainment, thus marginalising them even more, we urge the Australian government to progressively support and educate the wider community with a view to preserving and encouraging the ongoing development of EDM and related art and culture in Australia. We ask for more resources to be put towards training and employing youth within this growing international industry and towards providing more entertainment activities focused on improving quality of life for Australian youth.

As this situation is reminiscent of the discrimination against Gay and Lesbian communities, we also ask for the implementation of policies that would protect vulnerable Australians from discrimination - in much the same fashion that they are asking for the same.