MLAs PASS DRUG BILL

The ACT heroin injecting room will be set up in the Civic area in the
next few months under controversial legislation passed in the Assembly
late last night.

The Assembly is the second parliament in Australia to endorse a legal
injecting room after the NSW Parliament passed similar legislation in
late October.

The Supervised Injecting Place Trial Bill won majority support in the
Assembly, with 10 votes to seven.

The passage of the legislation marks the end of a year-long debate in
which Health Minister Michael Moore has tried to win Assembly support
for the proposal. The injecting room became a reality in August when
Labor lent its support subject to a series of amendments.

Labor Leader Jon Stanhope said last night he also wanted to establish
a 'high-level' bipartisan task force in the ACT to 'combat the scourge
of drug abuse'.

The injecting room will be run on a two-year trial basis. Prosecution
for heroin use and possession of small amounts of the drug will be
suspended inside the facility.

The legislation was vigorously opposed by some Government Members and
cross-benchers Paul Osborne, Dave Rugendyke, and Trevor Kaine.

Chief Minister Kate Carnell and Urban Services Minister Brendan Smyth
split with ACT Liberal Party policy to support the proposal. (The
party recently passed a motion abolishing the Liberal conscience vote
until the issue went to a referendum.)

Mrs Carnell said the injecting room would not be a panacea but it was
one of a broad range of treatments for heroin users.

'They are kids who went to good schools, who came from good homes, who
are bright, capable, and have a lot to offer . . . It could happen to
any of us as parents,' she said.

'I believe absolutely, definitely in my heart of hearts that I am
taking the right approach,' she said.

Mr Moore said the injecting room would be a gateway to detox and
counselling services as well as providing clean equipment and a
supervised environment in which to inject drugs.

'A dead drug user cannot be persuaded into treatment. A dead drug user
does not hear any messages,' Mr Moore said.

Mr Rugendyke said the Bill had been rushed through the Assembly
without proper consideration of the associated problems.

'It's basically the agenda of a ring-in Liberal Michael Moore, while
the majority of the Liberal Party does not even support the Bill.'

Speaker Greg Cornwell said the media perpetuated the notion that
people should feel compassion for 'the law breakers and the drug thugs
in our midst'.

'I don't think we should inflict the unknown perils of a shooting
gallery upon Canberra.'

Greens Member Kerrie Tucker appealed to Members who opposed the Bill
to look for a sense of compassion.

'It's not about saying that [heroin use is] okay. It's about saying
that it's incredibly dangerous that you may die as a result of using
this drug,' she said.