HAMER'S PLEA ON HEROIN

Former Victorian Liberal premier Sir Rupert Hamer has infuriated the
State Opposition by launching a direct public appeal to the Liberal
Party to back Labor's plan for supervised heroin injecting facilities.

Writing in The Agetoday, Sir Rupert says it would be unacceptable for
the Liberal Party to deny support for at least a trial of injecting
facilities throughout Melbourne.

While Sir Rupert has previously expressed support for a trial, his
article today goes substantially further, setting out the conditions
by which the Liberals could agree to the proposal.

Senior Liberals yesterday reacted angrily to Sir Rupert's
intervention, attacking him for failing to consult with the opposition
leadership before making his comments through The Age.

Liberal sources criticised Sir Rupert for not speaking directly to
either Opposition Leader Denis Napthine or the party's health
spokesman, Robert Doyle, about his views.

Sources said that while Sir Rupert's moderate views on social policy
were well known, the timing of his comments was "appalling" given the
Liberals were currently deliberating over whether to support a trial
of injecting facilities.

Dr Napthine said yesterday he would have preferred Sir Rupert to "have
picked up the phone" and spoken to him directly, rather than
communicate through the media without his knowledge.

Approached for comment yesterday, Mr Doyle issued a pointed response,
making it clear that the Liberals were unhappy that Sir Rupert had not
consulted the opposition.

"I welcome the former premier's views on the drug debate, as I would
welcome the chance to speak to the former premier about his views," Mr
Doyle said.

"Sir Rupert's views are a valuable contribution to the debate, as are
the many other views which have been expressed directly to the leader,
myself and the party by many party and branch members, and members of
the public; some of whom share the former premier's views, many others
of whom vehemently oppose what he suggests."

Mr Doyle said the Liberal Party would "continue to consult widely, as
Sir Rupert suggests, and would be happy to talk directly to him if he
wishes to do so".

Health Minister John Thwaites welcomed Sir Rupert's call and urged
Liberal MPs to "follow his lead" and support a trial.

"Sir Rupert Hamer represents a positive force within the Liberal Party
for drug reform," Mr Thwaites said. "He, like the Labor Party, has
recognised that the current arrangements are not enough."

Sir Rupert says it is impressive to note the widespread support for a
trial of injecting facilities, both from groups closest to the drug
scene, and other broadly representative bodies.

He says that injecting facilities had been a vital element in the
broad-based attack on drugs taken in Switzerland and Germany.

Sir Rupert says the precise location of the facilities in Melbourne
was the most contentious issue, and the Liberals would "justly require
close consultation with the people and the areas most likely to be
affected".

"It would also fairly insist that a range of facilities for treatment
be offered as an integral part of the scheme," he says.

The Liberal Party is expected to make its decision on whether to
support a trial of injecting facilities by October, although many MPs
believe the partyroom will vote down the proposal.