GOVT TO CAREFULLY MONITOR AUST'S FIRST LEGAL INJECTING ROOM

The New South Wales Government says it will carefully monitor a legal
injecting room for heroin users which has opened in Sydney's Kings Cross.

The medically supervised centre is the first of its kind in Australia and
opened for business last night.

The New South Wales Opposition has continued its criticism of the trial,
claiming the money spent on the injecting room would be better spent on
drug rehabilitation.

Special Minister for State John Della Bosca says the impact of the
injecting room will be evaluated.

"It'll be carefully monitored, it'll be looking at, if any, a reduction in
drug overdose deaths," he said.

"It'll be looking at the effect on the level of addiction and it'll be
looking at the level of criminal activity in the vicinity of the facility."