UN DRUGS BOARD VISIT DELAYS AUSTRALIAN HEROIN TRIALS

A United Nations drugs board visit has reportedly put another barrier in
Australia's path to operate a trial heroin injecting rooms.

The Australian newspaper today reported plans for the heroin shooting
gallery had effectively been put on hold and would not operate until the
United Nations Narcotics Control Board visited Australia to investigate the
plans.

Representatives of the board, which has already warned the heroin shooting
galleries are illegal and may damage Sydney's Olympic image, will examine
the scheme in March.

However, The Uniting Church, which plans to run Australia's first trial
heroin shooting gallery, had already said the room would probably not start
until mid-next year as operators struggle to find an appropriate site.

A spokesperson for Special Minister of State John Della Bosca told the
newspaper NSW would co-operate with the UN visit, but would still establish
the gallery through the Uniting Church.