CRACKDOWN ON RAVE PARTIES

Rave-party organisers with bad records who allow drugs to flourish at
their events will be denied permits under tough new sanctions planned for
the industry.

Permits will be harder to get for other operators after dozens of
party-goers fell seriously ill at the Christmas Kandy rave, which finished
early yesterday.

A bad batch of the killer drug GHB, also known as GBH or Grievous Bodily
Harm, was blamed for the emergency.

Twelve party-goers were taken to city hospitals in a serious condition,
while others were taken to emergency departments by friends.

They suffered fits, breathing problems, dehydration and hyperthermia - a
heat-related illness that also can kill.

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson issued a warning to the dance
party industry through the Herald Sun.

"If promoters are out there running events that are unsafe, then they are
going to find it a lot harder to get a permit in the future," he said.

"I'm putting them on notice."

Ambulance officers were overwhelmed as they ferried party-goers to the
Royal Melbourne and Alfred hospitals during Saturday night.

It took eight paramedics and ambulance staff to restrain one man.

Ambulance officers are alarmed the toxic batch of GHB has arrived as the
music festival season gets into full swing.

Next week's Sensation party at Telstra Dome is expected to attract tens of
thousands of party-goers.

Mr Robinson said the number of casualties on Saturday was unacceptable.

"I expect, and I think the community expects, that if these events are
going to be held, they are done so in an environment that is safe for the
people who are attending," he said.

"I'll be having private discussions with the Director of Liquor Licensing
this week about tougher sanctions and stricter permit conditions but this
is a warning that they are on notice."

GHB claimed its first fatality in Victoria in 2005 when nurse Belinda
Davey died in a drug dealer's car outside a city dance club.

Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman warned it was only a
matter of time before another party-goer died.

"This is a very dangerous drug," he said.

"It can absolutely kill you and there are recorded deaths from it. It's
called grievous bodily harm and that's what it does to you.

"The seriousness of some of these people that presented themselves on
Saturday night really concerned us and it's only a matter of time before
we get a death."

Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Education Australia, Paul
Dillon, said GHB was a lethal drug.

"It can kill, and has killed. People are really playing Russian roulette
with their lives."

Dozens of party-goers were taken to hospital after two rave parties at
Kryal Castle last year.

Police Inspector David Blencowe denied suggestions police should have shut
down Saturday night's event.

Up to 2000 party-goers filled Festival Hall for the drug-fuelled dance party.

Police face a huge task on New Year's Eve for the Sensation event.

"Certainly with an event like that I would imagine there would be
significant police resources deployed and there would be a number of
proactive steps taken, as well as trying to actually police the event," he
said.

Organisers of Sensation distanced themselves from Saturday night's emergency.

"Sensation has asked people not to take drugs and are doing anything
police and safety officers have asked," spokeswoman Erin Jameson said.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle slammed irresponsible rave-party operators.

"You don't give permits to people for these rave parties unless they can
show us a great track record in managing large numbers of kids at a rave
party," he said.