BRACKS RIDICULES 'SAFE' DRUG-DEALING

DRUG abuse experts yesterday overwhelmingly dismissed a local
council's suggestion for establishing a safe dealing area for sales of
heroin near injecting rooms.

And the idea prompted a strong attack from Victorian Premier Steve
Bracks, who described it as ridiculous.

The criticisms came after revelations the Greater Dandenong Council
had discussed the concept with local MPs in response to the concerns
of local business people about drug dealing near proposed safe
injecting rooms.

Mr Bracks said there was no such thing as a safe dealing room and the
State Government planned to increase police numbers as part of a
crackdown on dealers.

"I am absolutely opposed. I just think it is a ridiculous suggestion
I've got a bit of time for that council I'm surprised that they even
produced or discussed the matter," he said.

Odyssey House chairman Nigel Dick described the idea as
"fanciful".

"It is vital that whatever we do, it does not become a launch pad that
leads to the final overdose," he said.

Graeme Rule of the Dandenong-based Drug-Arm Victoria said the concept
would raise more problems than it could ever hope to solve.

"A safe dealing area, apart from being an oxymoron, would be a no-go
area for police, which would give free rein for people trading in
illegal substances," he said.

And Open Family chief executive Nathan Stirling said the idea risked
confusing the public about the drug problem.

However, Greater Dandenong mayor Naim Melhem was yesterday standing by
the need for political leaders to discuss safe dealing areas, despite
the fact that the city's councillors had unanimously rejected the idea.

"People are criticising the City of Greater Dandenong about how could
we discuss such a thing, but I think it is important to discuss it
because it is part of the problem," he said.

"While we are making decisions on safe injecting facilities we cannot
ignore the fact that deals are being done every hour of every day and
something has to be done about it."

The proposal also attracted a lukewarm response from the four other
councils earmarked under the Government's policy for safe injecting
facilities. None of the council have discussed such an idea.

Meanwhile, US Surgeon-General David Satcher, in Australia to research
mental health programs, said yesterday his country's law-and-order
campaigns were having a significant impact on drug abuse.

"'We think (law-and-order response) that it is having a positive
effect in terms of drug use, we've seen a decrease in drug use so our
attitude has been to do everything possible to discourage drug use and
not co-operate with the sale or use of illegal drugs," he said.

"That's where we are in our country and I know it is not at the same
place you are."