STATES TO PUSH HEROIN TRIALS

A NEW survey showing widespread public opposition to heroin shooting
galleries will be ignored by the NSW Government as it pushes ahead
with its own trial.

Special Minister of State Mr John Della Bosca said the Bulletin-Morgan
poll, which found that a majority of Australians opposed the
introduction of legalised heroin injecting rooms, would have no impact
on the State Government's plans.

The poll, published yesterday, found that 52 per cent of Australians
were against injecting rooms.

The strongest opposition came from NSW and Victoria, where the Bracks
Government has also been trying to get a trial under way.

Of those polled, 54 per cent in NSW and 55 per cent of Victorians were
against the concept.

In NSW, the Uniting Church has already been given formal approval to
begin operations in Sydney's red light district of Kings Cross.

"Like statistics, there's lies, damn lies, and there's polls," Mr
Della Bosca told Parliament.

The Bracks Government is pushing ahead with the introduction of
legislation to establish a number of injecting rooms, but the
Opposition already announcing its intention to block the bill in the
Upper House.