Australian governments refuse pill testing as festival goer dies

The death of a Commonwealth Bank worker at an electronic music festival in Sydney has reignited the debate over pill testing at events with one charity boss blasting the government for having 'blood on their hands'. 

Kieran Ngo, 26, died after he took a pill at the Transmission Festival which was held at the Sydney Showground on Saturday afternoon.

He is believed to have taken MDMA and NSW Police are now investigating whether a bad batch of the drug is spreading through Sydney, as 12 others were also rushed to hospital after also taking pills.

In light of Mr Ngo's tragic death, Greg Chipp, managing director at Drug Policy Australia, slammed the government for being 'culpable' for the deaths of young people by not having pill testing at festivals. 

Pill testing involves analysing illicit drugs to find out what possibly harmful substances are present. 

There has long been a push to introduce pill testing at festivals, nightclubs and similar places but the government has steadfastly rejected calls.