MAYORS URGE NP LEADER TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING

Two Melbourne mayors who have pledged their support for supervised injecting
room trials warned of a deepening country-city divide after Victorian
National Party leader Peter Ryan rejected an offer to meet them.

The mayors of Port Phillip, Julian Hill, and Yarra, John Phillips, yesterday
called for Mr Ryan to abstain from voting on the legislation when parliament
resumes.

"If he is not bothered to listen and consider why the majority of people in
Port Phillip and Yarra are prepared to give the trial a go, then we suggest
he shouldn't vote on the matter," Cr Hill said.

The mayors sent a joint invitation to Mr Ryan last week requesting a meeting
with him before he votes on legislation for the proposed 18-month supervised
injecting room trial. A reply the following day from Mr Ryan's office
rejected the offer.

The mayors said the spread of drug use meant country politicians had to face
the issue.

"Peter Ryan plans on representing country Victoria by casting a blinkered,
uninformed vote," Cr Hill said. Cr Phillips said Mr Ryan was committed to
opposing the legislation despite 359 deaths from heroin overdoses in
Victoria last year.

In Gippsland, Mr Ryan's electorate, 136,554 needles were distributed in
1999.