BEATTIE RULES OUT INJECTING ROOM TRIAL

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has ruled out trialling a safe heroin
injecting room anywhere in Queensland, saying the state does not need public
injecting facilities.

Speaking in Townsville, Mr Beattie denied methadone programs around the
state, including one in Bowen, suggest a need for facilities to get
intravenous drug users off the streets.

He says heroin use in Queensland is not comparable with the southern states.

"You've got to remember that we don't need to pick up every gimmick that
goes," he said.

"The bottom line is that Sydney and Melbourne has a bigger heroin problem
than we do. Now we have one, but it is small in comparison with Sydney and
Melbourne.

"Now, I haven't seen the full assessment of the Sydney trial. We'll have an
assessment of that.

"I'm not aware of any of these working effectively long-term anywhere in the
world."