DRUG STRATEGY LOSING SUPPORT

Opposition Is Mounting To Safe-Injecting Rooms Trial

THE AUSTRALIAN Parent Movement (APM) has slammed State Government plans to
establish safe heroin injecting rooms and has called for funds to instead be
directed towards the establishment of major drug rehabilitation and
detoxification units.

APM president Dyonn Dimmock said Victorians were in desperate need of a
detox centre with at least 100 beds to help reform drug addicts.

Ms Dimmock said she had spoken with many Ballarat parents who backed her
plea.

"I have lots of calls from Ballarat parents and we try to assist them in
their times of crisis and act on their behalf." she said.

"They agree that the current government initiative of safe injecting rooms
is another band-aid fix and we are sick of hearing about it."

Ms Dimmock said the APM believed there was one way to end the heroin problem
which is damaging the lives of an increasing number of Ballarat residents.

"The only way is to get the Federal and state governments and the community
to work together to fund the first major detox centre here in Victoria," she
said.

"We would like one major centre which is linked to other care providers such
as the Salvation Army and hospitals.

She said the funding announced for the implementation of safe injecting
rooms would be better spent building such a centre.

Ballarat West MLA Karen Overington said she had spoken with Health Minister
John Thwaites outlining Ballarat's shortage of services for drug addicts.

"I acknowledge the need for a drug detoxification and rehabilitation service
in Ballarat, and I'll continue to work to secure appropriate drug treatment
services," said Ms Overington.

Meanwhile parliamentary support for the safe injecting rooms appears to be
waning.

The Government's chances of getting its bill passed diminished yesterday
when two independent MPs said they were likely to oppose the legislation.

Gippsland East MP Craig Ingram and Mildura MP Russell Savage have stated
their opposition to the trials, prompting Premier Steve Bracks to ask
Liberal MP's to back the proposal.

Mr Bracks said he was hopeful the Liberals would consider the government's
bill.

"I believe they will find what we found through the Pennington inquiry, and
that is that communities want answers -- they're tired of what's happening
now not working."

The government would have the numbers in the lower house to pass its bill if
it wins next month's Benalla by-election, but it would still face defeat in
the conservative-dominated Legislative Council.