Defqon. 1 has called Sydney home for the past 10 years, but two deaths at the 2018 event has left its future hanging in uncertainty.
Under heavy scrutiny from the NSW police force and Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the hardstyle mega-festival may not return to its longtime home at Sydney International Regatta Centre – and it seems like the nation’s capital is throwing its doors wide open to Defqon. ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury wrote a letter to event organisers Q-Dance inviting them to hold Defqon in Canberra, and he also raised the possibility of pill testing at the event – a debate that was reignited after this year’s tragic events.
“I would like to encourage you to consider relocating future festivals and events to Canberra where a pill testing facility may be established to minimise drug harm for festival patrons,” his letter read. “The Greens want to do our best to ensure festival-goers have a good time in the safest ways possible, rather than taking avoidable risks.”
In a landmark event, the Canberra leg of festival Groovin The Moo hosted Australia’s first pill-testing facility back in April – a move that was widely praised by the music industry at large. Now, it looks like Canberra is looking to implement similar approaches at other festivals in its vicinity.
Will Defqon find a new home in 2019? Only time will tell, but you can relive 2018’s festivities here:
