WILL LABOR'S NEW PLAN GAIN LIBERAL SUPPORT?

The Bracks Government's revised plan for injecting facilities is
driven as much by politics as pragmatic policy, seeking to stave off
what shaped as an inevitable defeat by the Liberal-dominated upper
house.

Labor recognised it needed to reassess its strategy if it was to rebut
opposition accusations that the Liberals were being forced into a
decision without adequate consultation or detail about the facilities.

As Health Minister John Thwaites acknowledged, the modified plan
detailed in parliament yesterday is essentially designed to both
appease and pressure the opposition into supporting a trial.

Under the new plan, the opposition will be asked to give in-principle
support for injecting facilities when the bill is debated in the
spring parliamentary session. Facility providers, local councils and
Thwaites will have six months to develop comprehensive plans for
individual facilities. The plans will then have to be approved by parliament.

Labor is selling the plan as a "double-veto" for the opposition,
arguing the government is ensuring the parliament will be "the final
arbiter of a rigorously controlled trial".

Undoubtedly aware Labor is trying to outmanoeuvre the Liberals, the
opposition is giving little away. However, the initial response last
night from its health spokesman Robert Doyle suggests the government
remains a long way from success.

Doyle accused Labor of straying from the Penington report on a number
of critical issues, that the issue of legal liability was still
unclear, and that local residents appeared to have lost their right of
final veto over the facilities.

Doyle argued the final decision for establishing any facility would
now be left to Thwaites, the facility provider, and the affected local
council. In other words, residents would ultimately be left out.

He promised to raise the issue when he attended a public meeting in
Footscray this weekend.

Doyle insists the opposition will work through the issue in good
faith, but Labor would be foolish to think they have found a way to
pressure the Liberals into support.

Senior Liberals maintain the majority of opposition MPs are
steadfastly against the proposals, with Liberal leader Denis Napthine
moving to impose additional hurdles.

Labor's new plan recognises there was a need for further checks and
balances in the process. It remains doubtful whether this will be
enough to sway the Liberals.