DRUG POLICY RIFT OPENS

An independent MP has broken ranks with the Labor Government over
plans to open heroin injecting rooms.

Mildura MP Russell Savage has backed Opposition concerns over health,
legal, planning and social issues.

But he said all avenues needed to be considered on the heroin crisis,
refusing to rule out backing a compromise model.

There was "no such thing as a safe situation to inject yourself with
drugs", Mr Savage told parliament.

"It certainly won't be acceptable to introduce, under any
circumstances, safe injecting facilities without resolving the myriad
problems and difficulties.

"I am not going to go down a path where heroin use is an acceptable or
encouraged pastime."

The government wants to open five injecting rooms by the middle of
next year.

But it needs the three independent MPs to ensure the policy's passage
through the Legislative Assembly.

The Opposition, which has the balance of power in the Legislative
Council, yesterday refused to back the policy, describing it as haphazard.

This is despite the former Kennett government considering support for
a Wesley Central Mission-style heroin hospital before losing the election.

Former health minister Rob Knowles said he had backed a comprehensive
health clinic for "chaotic" drug users.

"I can confirm that we had been discussing how we would deal with a
better primary health care system for chaotic users," he said. "We
were looking at ways to keep these chaotic users alive."

But the Denis Napthine-led Opposition has cited concerns including
whether injecting houses would be established near schools and
kindergartens, the legal implications, what age restrictions would
apply and whether councils would have veto powers.

Dr Napthine said the term "safe injecting facility" was a
misnomer.

"There is no way you can describe a facility, no way the government
can pretend that injecting illegal and lethal substances into any
person in any environment is safe," he told parliament.

The Herald Sun reported on Monday Health Minister John Thwaites had
confirmed councils would not have veto over the location of up to five
heroin injection rooms.

But he has also made it clear the clinics will not be forced on any
council and there will be a full consultative process.