MCNAMARA BLAMED FOR BY-ELECTION LOSS

THE National Party in Victoria had only itself and its former leader, Pat
McNamara, to blame for last weekend's shock by-election loss in Benalla,
party heavyweight Peter McGauran said yesterday.

As the Victorian Nationals gathered to discuss splitting from the Liberals,
the party's most senior Victorian federal MP said severing ties would serve
no purpose. He said the by-election loss was a voter backlash against Mr
McNamara's decision to quit politics. "Of course Pat McNamara should have
stayed . . . because people will punish any political party whose members
are seen to take them for granted and just to use them for their own
convenience," said Mr McGauran. "We've paid a heavy price for having a
by-election."

Victorian National Party leader Peter Ryan refused to be drawn on Mr
McGauran's comments, but many Nationals are privately seething about Mr
McNamara's hurried departure.

Labor's Denise Allen was declared the new member for Benalla yesterday,
after almost 100 years of conservative party representation in the seat.
Labor won the seat from the Nationals with an 8 per cent swing.

The Victorian Nationals announced yesterday a formal review of the
by-election loss, which will include an examination of the Liberal
coalition partnership.

Mr McGauran, the federal Arts Minister, said the Benalla loss had
significant implications for the federal Government, which will go to the
polls next year.

"Of course, there's a federal flow-on because every country seat in
Victoria is marginal, whether state or federal," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bracks Government yesterday faced another challenge to its
trial of five heroin-injecting rooms.

Councillors of the City of Greater Dandenong, considered one of Melbourne's
heroin trouble spots, is expected to reject the plan on Monday night.

David Penington, the chairman of the Government's drug expert committee,
said the move was too hasty, but Greater Dandenong Mayor Angela Long
defended the council's position, saying community views could not be ignored.

She said residents had made their opposition clear and it was time for
consultation to end. "A survey taken at a public forum was 90 per cent
opposition," she said. "There are many concerns it will attract people from
other areas to use and deal, creating a honey-pot effect."

The Bracks Government has promised councils the final right of veto over
injecting rooms.

Dr Penington said he remained confident injecting facilities would be
established in St Kilda and Collingwood.

The cities of Maribyrnong and Melbourne are still consulting with their
communities.

The Government hopes to pass enabling legislation for the 18-month trial in
the spring session of parliament, but is reliant on the Opposition to
approve it in the upper house.

The Liberal Party will not declare a position on the facilities until after
reviewing draft legislation.