'CAUTION' FOR DRUG OFFENCES

YOUNG offenders caught for the first time with small amounts of heroin or
amphetamines will be cautioned instead of jailed under new laws to be
debated in State Parliament this week.

Adults caught with small portions of hard drugs in the Illawarra or on the
north coast will also be spared jail.

In a six-month trial in both areas, adults will instead undergo compulsory
treatment involving conferencing and rehabilitation.

The State Government will also urge that cannabis users be cautioned,
rather than jailed, subject to the discretion of police, who will take into
account an offender's history and the circumstances of the arrest.

"We're taking a view that with under-18s using hard drugs or heroin this is
clearly a disturbed child," said Special Minister of State John Della
Bosca. "Prison is clearly not the answer.

"This is more than just injecting rooms, this is a broad plan," he said.

"We expect adults to take a more responsible approach. However, we are
introducing a pilot in two areas. It is not for large quantities, it is a
compulsory treatment pilot.

"If it's not working, we will slam the door shut on this."

Australia's first legal heroin injection room will open around next
February. State Parliament this week will formally endorse its
establishment. Four sites in Kings Cross are being assessed by the Sisters
of Charity who, through St Vincent's Hospital, will administer the room.

Sisters of Charity chief executive Tina Clifton said up to 30 patients an
hour were expected to use the site.

Mr Della Bosca moved the legislation in the Legislative Council late
onThursday, clearing the way for the injection room to operate for 18 months.

A week of debate in both houses of Parliament will now follow. But despite
the bipartisan approach to the drug summit, both major parties are set to
be constrained to taking party positions when the bill is put to a vote.

A spokesman for Mr Della Bosca said the only issue on which the ALP allowed
a conscience vote was abortion.

A Coalition party room meeting on Tuesday will determine the Opposition's
approach, with some MPs insisting they unite behind a party position.

Police Commissioner Peter Ryan has asked that the injection room be kept
within the grounds of St Vincent's Hospital to avoid placing police in the
position of having to enforce a legal sanctuary inside the room while a
free-for-all occurred outside.

NSW Health Director-General Mick Reid will also need to be satisfied the
injection room cannot be seen from the street and is not close to schools,
child care or community centres.

The Government has adopted all but seven of the 172 recommendations from
the drug summit.