A Sydney woman says she was denied entry to the Above & Beyond show at the Sydney Showground on Saturday night following the implementation of strict new rules regarding drugs, despite the fact that no drugs were found on her.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Stephanie Korfiatis, 23, a long-time fan of the electronic music band, told a Fairfax Media photographer she was waiting in line outside the venue with a group of friends to have her bag checked by security when a drug detection dog sat beside her.
She was pulled aside, asked to remove an item of clothing and interrogated about her association with illicit drugs.
"I was just about to go through the bag check and then the dog came up around and they pulled me aside and asked me come over to the check-in station," she said.
"They told me to take my top off and then asked me all these questions like, 'Have you been around it [drugs]? When was the last time you took it?'
She claims she was also asked if she had been around people taking drugs before arriving at the event at Olympic Park in Sydney's west.
"I was at my mate's place but that's about it. I mean I've worn these shoes to other events," she said.
Ms Korfiatis, from Roselands, said she was not aware of what substances she was being tested for.
"I had a Vicks stick. So the Vicks stick saw me being considered a druggo," she said.
Ms Korfiatis then spoke to the licensee who she claims denied her entry. She presented the tube of nasal decongestant she was carrying.
"I spoke to the licensee who said, 'You've got the Vicks stick and the dog has identified you as positive so we're not letting you in,' " she told the photographer.
"You have no idea how long I've been looking forward to this. I bought the tickets on pre-sale about six months ago."
She was the only member of her group who was denied entry to the $130 a head event.
New rules implemented by NSW Police earlier in the week stated that, should a drug detection dog sit next to any reveller, they would be turned away or ejected from the event - even if drugs were not found.
Police also ordered opponents of the hard-line approach to stop distributing flyers, which contained information about the detection dog program and advice to anyone pulled aside by police.
About 30 volunteers from the "Sniff Off" campaign, backed by the NSW Greens, descended on Olympic Park to distribute the flyers to concertgoers.
The Sydney Olympic Park Authority Regulation 2012 declares a person within its bounds must not "distribute a brochure, leaflet or handbill".
The group from "Sniff Off" said it had spoken with ticket holders who were denied entry even though no drugs were found on them.
"This is a serious abuse of police powers," they posted on Facebook.
"We will see the NSW Police Force in court next week."
When approached for comment on Saturday night, a NSW Police spokesperson told Fairfax Media there was "nothing to report, positive or otherwise".
Ms Korfiatis could not be contacted for further comment on Saturday night.
With Brook Mitchell and AAP
