The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 33.31 – January 9, 2019

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PILL TESTED AND READY TO SAVE LIVES SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #31 • Wednesday, January 9, 2019 • www.echo.net.au

Nationals candidate Modalities shine in Bangalow mute on pill-testing Local candidates for the next state election must be willing to break from party lines on the issue of pill testing in the interests of saving the lives of local young people, local youth workers say. With yet another drug-related death at a festival over the New Year period, and a record number of illicit drug detections at the Byron Bay Falls Festival, pressure is mounting on our political aspirants to take a stand. ‘I think it’s time for some of our local politicians to step outside of party policy and have a look at what’s needed in their own electorate, their own community,’ local youth worker Nicqui Yazdi said. ‘They need to ask themselves the question, “If I had a child who was going to a festival next week and possibly taking drugs, would I like them to have the opportunity to have those drugs tested, or not?”.’ Ms Yazdi, who was part of a select group of Australians to undertake a special training course in pill testing late last year, said the issue was more pressing in Byron Bay than anywhere else in the state.

Party town ‘We’re this massive tourist destination with a party town in the middle of it and with that comes huge consumption of alcohol and other drugs,’ she said. ‘We need pill testing now.’ With less than 100 days until locals go to the polls, only incumbent Ballina MP Tamara

Smith (Greens) has unequivocally supported the introduction of pill testing at music festivals. ‘I’ve been talking about pill testing since my early teens and the need for it is greater now than ever,’ Ms Smith said. ‘Do we need another summit on pill testing? No, we already know from the experience of other countries that it works. We need to introduce it now.’ One of Ms Smith’s main rivals for Ballina, Ben Franklin of the Nationals, declined to comment when asked by The Echo to state his personal opinion on pill testing. The National Party is officially opposed to the practice, with its leader in NSW, John Barilaro, recently saying that pill testing was akin to aiding drug dealers ‘by endorsing the product they’re pushing’.

Greens MP, Labor candidate supportive Labor’s candidate for Ballina, Asren Pugh, told The Echo that he supported a pill-testing trial in NSW, but only after ‘bringing the experts together to discuss what such a trial would look like’. This included a discussion about what role police would have in relation to the trial, and what kind of testing regime would be employed. Another local who works with young people, Ritamba Allen, acknowledged that the process of introducing pill testing would take time, but said there was already strong evidence that it worked. ▶ Continued on page 2

Byron Shire A pious drug lecture Council from the NSW Notices ▶ p8 Nationals ▶ p10

Goothala Doyle and Alicia Vella held a didgeridoo sound vibration healing and cultural education circle at Bangalow’s Starlight Festival last weekend. The annual festival attracts spiritual and holistic practitioners and patrons who take part in workshops, presentations, live music and wholesome food. For more info visit www.starlightfestival.com.au. Photo Jeff ‘Star-Lite’ Dawson

ǔ şſĎëćōĕ IJşƖƆĶŕī żſşŇĕĈƐ żſĶĈĕĎ ëćşưĕ ŔëſŊĕƐ ſëƐĕ Paul Bibby & Hans Lovejoy It was trumpeted by the developer as ‘a major step forward in relieving the acute shortage of affordable housing in the northern rivers’. But as the ‘Kollective’ unit development at 116 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby, hits the market this week, some locals are wondering whether it is making the affordable housing situation better or worse.

Councillor blasts Byron’s roundabout sculpture ▶ p5

It throws into question councillors’ eagerness to approve anything presented as ‘affordable’ and the effectiveness of such policies. Eight units, each consisting of one or two loft bedrooms and a downstairs work space, have been advertised on local Facebook pages for $550 to $600 a week. This is higher than both the median rent for a three-bedroom free-standing house in Mullumbimby

(around $550) and a unit ($350). The manager of the development, Duncan Band, declined an interview request from The Echo. He provided brief half-responses to our questions in writing, but was unwilling to confirm the prices listed in his company’s online advertising. ‘Market rent is still being determined by open house inspections,’ ▶ Continued on page 2

Cutting car pollution – it’s up to you ▶ p14

Questionable offset scheme paves way for bypass ▶ p8 Electrical licence 255292C

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