SYRINGE ANGER MOUNTS

TRADER, resident and family groups have slammed Melbourne City Council's
proposal to introduce syringe-vending machines and plan to fight it.

They say it would make families and tourists avoid the city and drug
addicts flock to it.

But the council's environment committee chair David Risstrom said the
vending machines should be seen from a health perspective.

"The impetus for it is to make sure there's after-hours access to clean
needles. We haven't committed to it though," he said. "It's a recognition
that people will use whether they have clean needles or not."

Australian Family Association spokesman Bill Muehlenberg said the plan gave
a message of surrender to the community. "It's a council in despair -- just
throwing up their hands," he said. "They've said what they're hoping to
achieve but our whole concern is that it's a message of surrender: 'we
can't solve this'."

Residents 3000 spokesman Peter Faris, QC, said it would lead to more
addicts and used syringes in city streets.

Cr Risstrom said the council administration would prepare a report early
next year on the detail's proposal.

He said it could work as a trial like in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Christchurch's Rodger Wright Centre spokesman Charles Henderson said the
city's one machine was effective as part of an overall drug strategy.

The centre provides outreach and information to drug users.

"It's an effective part of the strategy. It's not the whole answer though.
Education is still very important," he said.