HOW SISTERS STAGED A QUIET REVOLUTION

It Was, Joked Several Key Government Insiders, Something Of A Political
Godsend.

While the Drug Summit gathered a full head of steam in the salubrious
Legislative Council chamber a couple of months ago, another, much more quiet
meeting was under way in the modern function room of St Vincent's Clinic, up
the road in Darlinghurst. There, the who's who of the Sydney establishment
governing St Vincent's Hospital - among them Mrs Ros Packer, Mr David
Gonski, Mr Ted Harris and Dr John Yu - effectively rubber-stamped a decision
that had been under formal discussion inside the Catholic Church for many,
many months: running the nation's first legal injecting room.

Spearheaded by its most senior and vocal medical advisers, Dr Alex Wodak,
head of Drug and Alcohol Services, and Dr Tina Clifton, the chief executive
officer of the Sisters of Charity Health Service, the proposal's ethical and
moral ramifications had been explored and quietly adopted by the
Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, the five-member body representing
the religious order. The sisters, led by Sister Annette Cunlisse, have
chosen to stay out of the spotlight, declining interviews or any public role
yesterday.

But not only did the order approve the trial; it crafted a strongly worded
defence of its position. It argued the Catholic moral tradition affirmed
that harm-minimisation strategies - even illegal acts - were ethically
appropriate under specific conditions. With these provisos, it stated the
benefits of co-operation must outweigh the downsides; that assistance be
limited to acts that achieve the most good; and that clear education and
explanation be offered to ensure intentions are not misconstrued. "The
Congregation of the Sisters of Charity believes that compassion and respect
for thedignity of human persons compels us to move beyond deliberation to
positive action which redresses this most significant health and social
issue for our nation," they reported.

"Whilst not condoning drug trafficking or use of illicit drugs, we believe
that thereare those drug users who must be given every possible chance to
help them recover and rehabilitate."

And so, just days after the summit delivered its epic 172 recommendations on
drug law and treatment reform, the scheme was under way and a meeting
between the Health Minister, Mr Knowles, and key proponents of the St
Vincent's plan was organised.

"Let's face it, this was one of the most difficult and radical
recommendations from the summit and Carr must and should be congratulated
for his courage," said a senior Government insider. "It's something we know
will be hard to sell out there. But this is also a stroke of strategic
genius ... an injecting room run by the Church and the Sisters of Charity
... the nuns, no less." However, the decision to support the injecting room
relied just as significantly on the political muscle and will of the Premier
and his three key ministers during the Drug Summit: Craig Knowles in health,
the Special Minister for State and political Mr Fix It, John Della Bosca,
and the Attorney General, Jeff Shaw, who has long championed law reforms
aimed at diverting young offenders in particular outside the court system.

Interestingly, the former director general of the Department of Urban
Affairs, Gabrielle Kibble, is on the national board of St Vincent's.

One would assume the opinion of this savvy and highly experienced public
servant would have been sought. Certainly, St Vincent's sought the ethical
counsel of the Rev Dr Gerald Gleeson, the son of another powerful political
mandarin, the former Premier's Department head under Neville Wran, Gerry
Gleeson. Another son, Damien Gleeson, who runs the communications arm at St
Vincent's, was in charge of fielding public and media inquiries.

Late yesterday the Government was keen to share the glory for its widely
acclaimed initiative with St Vincent'sand the Sisters of Charity -a happy
marriage of church and state.