Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has tabled in Parliament a 20,000-strong petition calling for bar workers to receive mandatory training in preventing drink spiking and sexual violence.
The Newcastle Herald reported in February that Mr Crakanthorp was working on the online petition with the What Were You Wearing organisation to cover all bar and security staff at nightclubs in NSW.
Newcastle local government area had the second most reported drink spiking incidents in NSW last financial year, but Mr Crakanthorp told Parliament on Tuesday that the issue was prevalent across the state.
"Victims of drink spiking are often dismissed due to the potential overlap in symptoms with voluntary alcohol and drug use," he said.
"Data highlights that over one third of all drink spiking incidents result in sexual assault, with less than one sixth of such cases being reported to the police."
He said "shame, stigma, not being believed and lack of recollection of what happened" were the main contributors to under-reporting.
"WWYW aims to reduce the stigma placed on victims with mandatory trauma-informed training for all bar and security staff so that serious signs and symptoms of spiking are not ignored," he said.
The petition also calls for spiking prevention kits, educational resources, and posters in venues to promote patron safety and awareness.
