DRUG EXPERTS CHECK OPTIONS

A trial of up to five safe injecting rooms in Melbourne could be delayed
until later next year, with the State Government yesterday appointing an
expert panel to consult on its controversial policy.

The former government's drugs adviser, Dr David Penington, will chair a
panel of health, drug and legal experts to recommend before April on how
the 18-month heroin trial should be implemented.

The Wesley Central Mission, which is understood to be ready to open its own
facility for heroin addicts in Lonsdale Street, last night welcomed the
initiative and said it would work within the Government's parameters.

But Mr Craig Mercer, the manager of the Melbourne Inner-City Needle
Exchange, urged the Government to speed up the consultation stage, given
the record number of heroin deaths on the streets.

"Every week that goes by and we do nothing, six people die," he said.
"Bureaucracy moves slowly, and we need to help any facility that is willing
to open now."

The Premier, Mr Steve Bracks, said he was "absolutely serious" about
tackling the drug scourge, but he would not force Labor's position on local
communities. He conceded this could mean fewer than five trials.

He would take advice on the timing, but suspected it would not be until
later next year "before we can move at all".

Dr Penington said there was a real benefit in having a series of trials,
and it was highly likely that the locations would need to be flexible to
respond quickly to the fluid drug scene.

The Government's policy is to set up supervised injecting facilities in the
city, Springvale, Collingwood, St Kilda and Footscray, where there are high
levels of illicit drug use. Mr Bracks has ruled out a trial in rural Victoria.

The Municipal Association of Victoria, Odyssey House and the State
Opposition yesterday welcomed the period of consultation, saying serious
debate was needed before testing began.

"Unless individual councils and their communities are willing to have a
safe injecting room in their area, this sort of facility should go
elsewhere," said the MAV president, Cr Brad Matheson.