NSW GOVT REJECTS UN CRITICISM OF HEROIN INJECTING ROOM TRIAL

The New South Wales Government is defending its trial of a heroin injecting
room in Sydney, after a renewed attack by the United Nations International
Narcotics Control Board.

In a worldwide report released today, the board says the safe-injecting
room trial shows the Government condones the use and trafficking of illicit
drugs.

The Special Minister of State, John Della Bosca, says the report makes no
mention of the fact the Government has promised to provide the board with
the results of the supervised injecting room trial in Kings Cross.

He says early results show nearly 100 overdoses have occurred with no
fatalities and hundreds of people have been referred to treatment.

"It's a trial that the New South Wales Government allowed to be considered
only after extensive canvassing of community opinion and only in a very
defined area - that is the Kings Cross area - where people are at the
depths of their addiction cycle," he said.

The International Narcotics Control Board is urging the Federal Government
to ensure all states comply with the international drug control treaties
but a spokesman for the Prime Minister says responsibility for shooting
galleries rests with the state.

The spokesman says the Federal Government remains strongly opposed to
injecting rooms.