BEATTIE OPPOSES INJECTING ROOMS

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has expressed strong opposition to
supervised injecting rooms.

Mr Beattie plans to take a submission to state cabinet today for
Queensland's involvement in a Commonwealth strategy to empower police
to recommend rehabilitation for drug offenders.

He said yesterday he was not convinced supervised-injecting rooms
worked, as he agreed with claims the rooms would become a "honey-pot"
for the drug scene.

"I have not seen enough evidence in the world that they (injecting
rooms) work," he said.

"If you look at the number of people who are involved and the loss of
life ... they are shooting up at home and shooting galleries are not
going to change that."

Mr Beattie's personal cabinet submission needs final approval today
before the Queensland Government applies for $9million from the
Federal Government for 2002-2003.

Plans for the diversion project originated last November when the
Queensland Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative was formed to set up a
model for the program.

Under the program, police will be able to divert drug offenders from
the justice system into rehabilitation.

To qualify, drug offenders must be facing their first conviction, with
a maximum possession of 50grams of marijuana or a utensil for personal
use.

Offenders with marijuana for cultivation, supply or selling cannot
take part.

They also cannot qualify if they are facing other drug-related
charges, such as robbery to obtain money to buy drugs, Mr Beattie said.

Offenders must admit their guilt in a recorded police interview and
agree in writing to take part in a drug diversionary assessment.

They cannot have a history of violence or have faced a police caution
over drugs as a juvenile.

Mr Beattie said the program only applied to marijuana users, but the
State Government may consider extending it to other drugs.

"We have started with marijuana because we want to see if this program
works and we'll talk to the Commonwealth about other drugs if this
works," he said.

Funding for state-wide drugs initiatives includes $9.3million for a
school-based tough-on-drugs strategy, $58million for drug support
agencies and more than $41.5million to stamp out drug supply networks
and drugs in prisons.

The New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory governments have
legislated to open supervised-injecting galleries.

Prime Minister John Howard also opposes injecting rooms, which are
supported by the Australian Medical Association and Anglican Church
Primate Peter Carnley.