PENINGTON HEADS DRUG ROOMS PUSH

A HIGH-profile team of drug and social reformers will oversee the drive for
heroin-injecting rooms in Victoria.

Prof. David Penington will lead a seven-member committee advising the
government.

A key role will be negotiating with councils in drug-affected areas such as
the city, Footscray and Collingwood.

The Herald Sun reported yesterday the government would woo councils with up
to $8million in extra funding to set up injecting rooms.

Premier Steve Bracks has set a March 31 deadline for the Penington
committee to report in time for a mid-year launch of up to five clinics.

The strategy is the most ambitious yet in Australia to stem the rising
heroin toll.

"What we are doing is not working that's clear and evident by what is
happening in Victoria and what's happened around other capital cities and
states," Mr Bracks said.

The Penington committee will report in two stages.

The first will focus on overall drug policy and consultation with councils.
It will not force an injecting clinic on reluctant municipalities.

The second stage will focus on how best to implement overall policy.

There is no reporting date.

The other six committee members are Prof. Margaret Hamilton of the Turning
Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Prof. Pat O'Malley of Latrobe University,
Robert Richter, QC, Port Phillip mayor Dick Gross, VicHealth chief Rob
Moodie and Bernie Geary of Jesuit Social Services.

Prof. Penington headed the last government's Premier's Drug Advisory
Council, which recommended use and possession of marijuana in small
quantities be decriminalised.

The council also backed first-time users of cocaine, heroin and other hard
drugs being cautioned and sent to assessment and treatment centres.

Part of the Bracks Government's strategy is to educate shopkeepers on
dealing with drug addicts.

The Victorian chief of the Australian Retailers Association, Tim Piper,
said: "It's a terrific idea. It's important for retailers to deal with
people who might be a risk to themselves, staff or customers."

Opposition Leader Denis Napthine said Labor needed to resolve concerns such
as whether children would be allowed to use injecting rooms and where users
would buy heroin.

"I think the more the minority Labor Government look at this, they won't
find it's the simplistic solution that they thought."

Dr Napthine said he believed heroin trials were a better option than
safe-injecting rooms.

"It would only involve registered heroin addicts who are able to make
decisions for themselves, and a process of trying to wean them off heroin."