NATIONALS SAY NO TO DRUG TRIAL

The National Party has called for the creation of a special prison for
drug offenders while rejecting Victorian Government proposals for a
trial of supervised injecting facilities.

In a widely anticipated move, National leader Peter Ryan yesterday
declared his party's opposition to drug injecting rooms, claiming they
would send a poor message to young people while doing nothing to curb
the harm caused by drugs.

Instead, Mr Ryan said the government should establish a 600-bed prison
devoted to the detoxification and rehabilitation of drug offenders.

Mr Ryan said about 60per cent of Victoria's inmates were guilty of
drug-related crimes, and a prison specifically geared to treating
their addiction could make significant in-roads into the number of
offenders.

The idea was immediately ridiculed by the government. Police Minister
Andre Haermeyer said Bendigo prison already offered specialised drug
treatment programs for inmates and "I don't think we need another
prison in this state".

"Continuing to put people with a drug problem into the prison system
is the wrong way to go, and shows the absolute policy bankruptcy of
the National Party," he said.

Health Minister John Thwaites also dismissed the suggestion, and
denied the National Party's decision was a blow to government hopes to
have the injecting room trial approved by parliament.

Mr Thwaites admitted the government had been hopeful of National Party
support, but the crucial decision lay with the Liberal Party, which
controls the Legislative Council.

Opposition Leader Denis Napthine said he agreed with the National
Party's call for more rehabilitation and detoxification services, but
said his party room would have to consider the proposal for a special
drugs prison.

Mr Ryan said his party was "fundamentally opposed" to a trial of
supervised injecting rooms, despite the fact that, in the past, two of
his National Party colleagues had voiced guarded support for the experiment.

The Nationals leader said his party was now unanimous in its view that
such facilities were wrong.

"We see the delivery of heroin, which is a patently illegal product,
in an environment where it is said to be legal, as being fundamentally
flawed," he said.

Mr Ryan said that in addition to a special prison there should be an
expansion of drug prevention and education initiatives and improved
rehabilitation, detoxification and diversion programs.

He said his party decided to oppose the trial after a briefing from
the government's drugs policy expert Dr David Penington, and public
consultation.

The Liberal Party is yet to determine its position regarding the
trial, with the government offering it another two months to make its
final decision.

Mr Ryan refused to comment on how the Liberal Party should vote, but
said that "if we do go down this path (of a trial) we will drive a
stake through the communal heart of Victorians".

Dr Napthine said the National Party's decision was "not unexpected"
and would not influence the Opposition's final position. He refused to
say when his party would make its decision.