$8M CARROT FOR HEROIN HAVENS

COUNCILS will be wooed with $8million of extra funding under the Bracks
Government's blueprint to fight the heroin war.

Worst-affected areas will get almost half of the anti-drugs budget to
encourage them to allow safe-injecting rooms by the middle of next year.

Health Minister John Thwaites told the Herald Sun yesterday the government
would fight the drugs war on many fronts.

Under its strategy:

THREE to five injecting centres will open on a trial basis.

MEDICAL and counselling facilities will be available at the centres to
support addicts.

THE state will not provide heroin for use at the centres.

MOBILE units armed with the overdose-reversal drug Narcan will be set up to
help save addicts who don't use the centres.

FUNDING will be available to help the families of addicts.

TRADERS affected by the heroin problem will be taught how to deal with
overdose victims and refer them for treatment.

EFFORTS to divert addicts into counselling, detoxification and
rehabilitation programs will be increased.

DRUG awareness programs in schools will be reviewed to see if they can be
made more effective.

SECTIONS of the Asian and Aboriginal communities will receive extra help
because of concern they are over-represented in drug use and crime statistics.

Mr Thwaites said the drug crisis could best be tackled by a reform program,
not one-off measures.

"Just having safe-injecting facilities is not going to work without other
mechanisms," he said.

"We want more support, rehabilitation and education so all affected parties
and there are many can get on with living full and happy lives."

The families of addicts often faced unbearable burdens, Mr Thwaites said.

"These people need to know they are not alone.

"We are going to provide assistance to parent-support groups to help them
make the right decisions."

Two of the most likely sites for injecting rooms are in Collingwood, on or
near Smith St, and somewhere in St Kilda.

Mr Thwaites confirmed the location would be decided by the government and
councils would have no power of veto.

Melbourne city councillor Clem Newton-Brown has attacked the government's
handling of the issue, claiming councils were being hoodwinked by the
government.

He said it had misled them by asking them to help decide locations then
taking the decision out of their hands.

"If what (Mr Thwaites) is saying is they'll be consulting us, but without
the power of veto, then it's a sham consultation because we're not allowed
to reject a site," Cr Newton-Brown said.

He said the city council had not decided its position on safe-injecting
rooms. But Lord Mayor Peter Costigan, deputy Wellington Lee and others have
argued against a room in the CBD.

Having no veto would mean the council could not oppose a proposed
safe-injecting centre at the Wesley Central Mission in Lonsdale St.

Cr Newton-Brown said he did not oppose harm-minimisation measures but
wanted council control.

Mr Thwaites believes Cr Newton-Brown's concerns are premature and do not
represent the council.