MP BATTLES ADDICT CLINIC

The expansion of Victoria's only Naltrexone clinic for heroin addicts is
being challenged by federal Education Minister David Kemp.

Dr Kemp, who lives next door to the Genesis clinic in Bay St, Brighton, told
a planning tribunal appeal yesterday addicts attending the clinic had
dramatically affected his family's life.

Addicts regularly vomited and urinated on his front lawn and nature strip,
left syringes in his garden and letterbox and had constant heated arguments
around three sides of his house, Dr Kemp told the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal.

Litter from cigarette butts and food packaging, discarded from cars waiting
for patients, regularly surrounded his house.

Dr Kemp said occasional intrusions on to his property had forced him to
install a new security system, including locks on his doors and windows.

He said he feared enormously for the welfare of his wife and two sons, aged
6 and 13.

"My family, I feel, are at greater risk because of what is happening at the
clinic," he told tribunal chairman Ian Marsden.

"There was a constant flow of clients into the area outside my kitchen window.

"Sometimes there would be heated arguments, presumably between clients and
their families.

"The language was foul at times and also concerned former criminal activity."

Dr Kemp said his wife had once caught a patient urinating in the family's
front yard.

And trampled flowers in the garden led him to believe patients of the clinic
regularly urinated in his front yard.

Dr Kemp, who moved into the property in February 1992, said the problems did
not begin until January 1998.

The property has had a split residential/medical clinic permit since at
least 1970.

Partial treatment for drug addiction began at the house in 1978.

But when the last tenants moved out of a dwelling at the back of the
property in January 1998, the clinic expanded to use the former residence,
mainly to treat heroin addicts.

Dr Kemp is opposing a Bayside Council permit issued to upgrade the clinic,
which is run by Dr Michael Kozminsky.

The plans, approved by Bayside Council, provide for further parking spaces,
an extra waiting room and an extra consulting room.

The centre, which now serves about 300 clients a week, would take on one
extra doctor.

Dr Kemp said problems started at the clinic after the last tenants moved out.

Before then, the premises were more a general practice than an addiction
clinic and "did not impinge on us at all", Dr Kemp said.

He brought to the witness stand a cardboard box that he said contained seven
hypodermic needles found around his house.

But he said he was a strong supporter of Dr Kozminsky's work.

"I think anyone who seeks to help in this area is highly commendable," he said.

The tribunal hearing was to continue today.