REFSHUAGE SAYS SAVING LIVES JUSTIFIES SAFE INJECTING ROOM

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard Refshauge, has voiced
very strong support for Health Minister Michael Moore's safe injecting
place, saying it was unacceptable to have "people dying as a prop for
prohibition policy".

In a letter written to the minister last week Mr Refshauge said, "I
believe the provision of safe injecting places would save lives and
that is a very significant justification in itself. That it would also
provide opportunities for increased health of drug users and lead to
rehabilitation opportunities makes its implementation almost
unarguable."

"When we deal with those who find they are dependent on drugs in a way
that recognises their humanity and dignity we can say that we are
dealing with the problem as a civilised society ought to do," Mr
Refshauge said. Mr Moore withdrew his safe injecting plan last month,
after opposition in the Assembly and shaky support from the ALP and
Green's MLA Kerry Tucker, but plans to bring it up again mid-year.

Mr Refshauge said overseas injecting places had been very successful
and did not encourage or promote drug use. He conceded there would be
complex legal hurdles to overcome, but said they were not
insurmountable and he saw no threat to his independence in making
appropriate changes for the period of the trial.

He said it would be better if the trial enjoyed bipartisan and broad
community support, but it was worth going ahead without it. The
needle-exchange program had experienced "lukewarm support" when first
established, but that had changed, he said.

The ALP has also softened its stance, after last week's demand that a
juvenile rehabilitation service take precedence, and that Mr Moore
answer a long list of questions about the plan. Late last week, Labor
Leader Jon Stanhope said after Mr Moore had seen to his requirements,
the ALP could perhaps "see its way" to supporting the plan. Mr
Stanhope and Mr Refshauge agreed that a high level monitoring group,
involving police, community members, business, the DPP and
politicians, to watch over the trial and resolve problems immediately
they arose, was a very good idea.

Ms Tucker stood firm, saying she had always been in support of safe
injecting places in principle, but was not convinced it was the best
way to use the limited funds available.

"Mr Moore's view was that [an injecting room] is the highest priority,
I am just concerned that is not the view of the sector."

Mr Moore said although a final determination on cost had not been
made, estimates between $200,000 and $300,000 a year, would not be far
off the mark.