VICTORIAN LIBERALS TO VOTE AGAINST HEROIN INJECTING ROOMS

The Victorian Liberal Party will vote against the state government's
proposed safe heroin injecting rooms.

State leader Denis Napthine told reporters the party would not support the
controversial legislation due to be put before parliament in the Spring
session.

Dr Napthine said allowing addicts to inject heroin in state-funded rooms
sent the wrong message to Victorians and condoned rather than condemned
illicit drug use.

'Allowing people to inject heroin treats the problem and not the cause,' Dr
Napthine said.

'Rather than condoning heroin use we need to condemn it.'

Dr Napthine released an alternative strategy to combat the state's illicit
drug problem.

He said the plan would cost about $80 million a year to fund.