LABOR GIVES TACIT 'YES' TO MOORE'S DRUG ROOMS

The ALP has voiced its strongest support yet for Michael Moore's safe
injecting rooms proposal, which, it is understood, will go before Cabinet
early next week.

If it succeeds, the ACT would become the first place in Australia to allow
drug users to inject themselves with heroin under medical supervision.

Speaking this week, ALP leader Jon Stanhope said "it may well be that safe
injecting clinics are a sensible move that will be supported by he
community". However, he expressed concern that Mr Moore had stepped too far
ahead of community attitudes on the issue.

A number of questions needed to be asked, including who would use the
clinics and under what circumstances where they would be located, and who
would be legally responsible for the participants, Mr Stanhope said.

Mr Moore said, "When dealing with complex issues like this, it is
appropriate to take a half step ahead of the community and then carefully
explain."

The siting of the clinics had not yet been seriously considered.

He stressed that the proposal was for a medical trial, not a radical policy
change. He would also be speaking to the Director of Public Prosecutions to
sort out legal issues relating to the use of an illegal drug.

"It is very important not to undermine appropriate policing in the ACT," he
said. "The Australian Federal Police have adopted harm minimisation
strategies, and should be supported in that."

Mr Stanhope had not taken the issue to an ALP Caucus meeting, and said the
response of the party would depend on how well outstanding questions were
answered.

Mr Moore said that although the trial did not need to be cleared by the
Federal Government, Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge had commented at
a recent meeting that if it conflicted with Australia's international
treaty obligations he would have no choice to but to act.

He was confident the trial would not violate any treaties, but added that
there was always room for legal argument on this type of issue.

Checked-by: derek rea