NARCOTICS BOARD TO DISCUSS INJECTING ROOM WITH ACT GOVT

Members of the International Narcotic Control Board will meet with the ACT
Government this morning to discuss the trial of a safe injecting room in
Canberra.

The board publicly condemned injecting room trials earlier this year.

In a meeting with the ACT Health Minister, Michael Moore, the board is
expected to discuss its concern that safe injecting rooms breach
international treaty obligations.

Earlier this year, the board publicly condemned injecting room trials
claiming the use of illegal drugs cast doubt on there medical or scientific
usefulness.

Mr Moore say he will be using the meeting to ensure the board has an
understanding of the ACT Government's harm minimisation drug strategy.

He says legal advice received before legislation was passed for a trial to
proceed revealed no breach of treaty obligations.

"So that decision has been made and we'll be explaining why we think it's
sensible," he said.

"I don't think that the International Narcotic Control Board are here to put
a stop to supervised injecting rooms, they certainly want to raise
questions, they have raised questions about them.

"I believe we are consistent with our international treaties and I'll
explain to them why that is the case and what advice we have got.

"I'll be explaining to them as the first of the state and territory
jurisdictions that we're seeking to work cooperatively with New South Wales
on things like supervised injecting rooms but also on rehabilitation and
policing and a range of other important issues that make a comprehensive
drug policy."

The narcotics board will also meet with the Commonwealth, New South Wales
and Victorian Governments on the issue.