GOVT ASKED TO SHUT DOWN INJECTING ROOM

The New South Wales Opposition has called for federal intervention to block
Australia's first legal injecting room, saying it contravenes the Customs Act.

The call comes after the Uniting Church received approval from police and
health authorties to operate the heroin trial in Sydney's Kings Cross.

Shadow Attorney-General Chris Hartcher wants the federal law to be
enforced, saying the injecting room is in breach of the Act on possession
of prohibited imports.

"We've written to our federal colleagues and we're awaiting their reply,"
he said.

"It's against federal law for any person to knowingly use an item which may
be reasonably suspected of having been imported in contravention of customs
regulations, and all heroin of course is imported in contravention of
federal regulations."