Loading Mr Ashton said police had been discussing a "permit regime" for festivals with the government, in particular Police Minister Lisa Neville. "We've been having some good conversations with government ... around trying to look towards a permit regime where police can be involved, with the ambos and other emergency services, and planning around fire as well in relation to safety permits for these events. "I think it is something we need to look at seriously, it's the culture around these events," he said. "If we head straight to things like pill testing that just perpetuates that culture of an unsafe environment for young people trying to enjoy themselves."

It comes after another troubled year for the Rainbow Serpent Festival held in central Victoria, with a number of people arrested for drug trafficking and a number hospitalised due to drug use. At the moment, organisers for Rainbow Serpent Festival must secure a Place of Public Entertainment permit each year from the Pyrenees Shire. These permits have a checklist of requirements that event organisers must meet to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people attending has been considered. In order to get approval for the permit, the organisers must show they have considered regulations for fire safety, evacuation procedures, installation of barriers and exits and appropriate emergency and medical management is available. Each year after the event, the CFA, police and Ambulance Victoria provide feedback to the council.

But Mr Ashton said under the new scheme proposed, a festival which had a troubled history would not be able to get a permit. "I think so. I think the organisers of various concerts ... there used to be culture around how to make this event about the music and not about trying to create a Woodstock-like atmosphere in 2019. Police using a detection dog search cars at Rainbow Serpent Festival for drugs. Credit:Victoria Police "Minister Neville has been strong on this in conversations we've had with her on this, I think she's very supportive of an approach where we are able to make sure these concerts are as safe as possible. I'm pretty hopeful, she's been certainly ... not backward in supporting those conversations, I'm hopeful we'll get something there. Mr Ashton said the answer was not pill testing.

"I'm dead against pill testing ... when you start to try and regulate drugs at the concert gate, that sends the wrong message," he said. At a press conference on Thursday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews also reiterated the government's opposition to the idea. Loading "There is no safe level with which you can consume drugs and even substances that are 'pure; can be lethal. That is a fact," Mr Andrews said. "Our position is well known on this and our position will not be changing and that is based on common sense but also based on the fact that Victoria Police does not support the change in policy."

It comes after Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker on Wednesday said the organisation was not against discussing pill testing as a harm minimisation strategy. "We've been supportive of harm minimisation approaches to anything to do with drugs," he said. "We know there is evidence out there in regards to the role of pill testing. It's not a panacea, [but] we know our workforce ... are supportive of pill testing," he said. "We are supportive of the current approach of government to managing it." A recent survey of more than 500 ambulance union members found almost 92 per cent are in favour of the controversial measure.

A spokesman for Ms Neville confirmed the government was working with Victoria Police and other agencies, including local councils, to keep festival goers safe. One element being considered is the possibility of a new permit approval process for high-risk music festivals.