CARR BACKS INJECTING ROOM TRIAL

BOB Carr supported a State trial of heroin-injecting rooms last night, in a
turnaround for the NSW Premier, saying it was a simple and practical way of
saving lives.

A test of injecting rooms was "not a big step" given addicts already were
shooting up in laneways, he said.

Mr Carr's statements followed the end of the five-day NSW drug summit that
recommended overwhelmingly for non-government groups to trial injecting
rooms that had community support.

The 135 State MPs and 80 delegates at the summit passed most of the 168
recommendations before them, including relaxing cannabis-possession laws and
increasing funding for treatment and rehabilitation.

The Carr Government will consider the recommendations over the next six
weeks, but is not compelled to introduce them.

Mr Carr's comments last night supporting the trial contrasted with his
previous opposition to injecting rooms.

"All it (injecting rooms) means is that an activity that's taking place in a
laneway is allowed to take place under medical supervision in premises run
by a non-government organisation," Mr Carr told ABC television's 7.30
Report.

"It's not a huge step. Nonetheless we are going to look at it very, very
carefully."

If it were established, NSW would become the first State or Territory with a
legal injecting room.

Other recommendations passed include a trial of a children's drugs court and
cautions instead of charges for those possessing or growing small amounts of
marijuana, as well as diverting them to rehabilitation.

The recommendations triggered mixed responses from medical, welfare, church
and police groups. Some labelled them courageous; others feared a "dangerous
experiment".

The Salvation Army's Major Brian Watters said he was bitterly disappointed
with some recommendations – particularly making legal the
self-administration of a drug.

"Does that mean an addict is allowed to shoot-up in a bus shelter watched by
school kids?" he asked.

Reverend Ray Richmond, who yesterday revealed he was permanently closing his
Wayside Chapel's own trial injecting room, welcomed the recommendations.

John Howard said the summit was pressured into recommending changes as a
result of the recent trial of the Wayside Chapel's injecting room in
Sydney's Kings Cross.

"I felt that the drug summit was pressured, you might even say politically
verballed, by what occurred in Kings Cross in the weeks that led up to it,"
the Prime Minister said.

NSW Coalition leader Kerry Chikarovski attacked the Government for failing
to support an amendment to treble funding for rehabilitation and treatment.
She and Nationals leader George Souris maintained their opposition to
injecting rooms and relaxing cannabis laws.

Mr Carr told the summit the Government would examine the South Australian
example of easing cannabis laws and weigh up evidence about the health
effects of marijuana.

For its part, the South Australian Liberal Government is expected to amend
its cannabis laws, reducing the number of plants permitted for personal use
from 10 to three.