PROMINENT AUSTRALIANS BACK INJECTING ROOMS

A group of prominent Australians has urged public support for the
Victorian Government's proposal to set up supervised injecting rooms
for heroin users.

Former Governor General Sir Zelman Cowen, media matriarch Dame
Elisabeth Murdoch, Carlton football coach David Parkin and Australian
of the Year Sir Gustav Nossal were among those who signed an open
letter to all Victorians published in today's newspapers.

The letter said the proposed supervised injecting facilities would
improve community safety and save lives.

"Alone, they won't stop drug use. That is not the aim. But they will
probably reduce risks to everyone," it said.

"Importantly, they will very likely reduce the heroin death toll," it
said.

State Parliament is due in the spring session to debate legislation
enabling trials of injecting facilities in five municipalities across
Melbourne that have been identified as heroin hotspots.

The Liberal Party is yet to announce its position on the proposed
trials.

Opposition leader Denis Napthine said a group of experts, including
the head of the Government's drug advisory committee, Professor David
Penington, would address the party today.

"These are very professional expert speakers and the Liberal members
will be listening with an open mind," Mr Napthine told Radio 3AW.