NSW MPS BACK HEROIN SHOOTING GALLERIES

MPs from opposite sides of the political spectrum today publicly backed the
setting up of heroin shooting galleries in New South Wales.

Ahead of a crucial vote at the NSW drug summit tonight, upper house state
Liberal John Ryan, left-wing federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek and NSW
Liberal Senator Marise Payne all told the NSW Drug Summit injecting rooms
helped save the lives of addicts.

Mr Ryan said shooting galleries were not a quantum leap from the needle
exchange program currently being operated in NSW.

"If we're able to give needles to drug addicts on a no questions asked
basis, it's not a great step to give them space to carry out their deadly
habit in a position which might stop them dying," he said.

He said a trip to Kings Cross yesterday and his Christian beliefs had
influenced his decision.

"It is important to give drug addicts the opportunity to be saved," he said.
He said injecting rooms must be supported by the local community and could
not become no-go zones for police chasing drug dealers.

His position conflicts with most other coalition MPs, including Liberal
leader Kerry Chikarovski.

The only other NSW Liberal MP to publicly back injecting rooms at the summit
is Kevin Rizzoli. Senator Payne went further and offered support for a
heroin trial.