Pubdate: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 Source: Herald Sun (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 1999 Contact: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ Author: Nicola Webber and John Ferguson DRUG POLICY RIFT OPENS An independent MP has broken ranks with the Labor Government over plans to open heroin injecting rooms. Mildura MP Russell Savage has backed Opposition concerns over health, legal, planning and social issues. But he said all avenues needed to be considered on the heroin crisis, refusing to rule out backing a compromise model. There was "no such thing as a safe situation to inject yourself with drugs", Mr Savage told parliament. "It certainly won't be acceptable to introduce, under any circumstances, safe injecting facilities without resolving the myriad problems and difficulties. "I am not going to go down a path where heroin use is an acceptable or encouraged pastime." The government wants to open five injecting rooms by the middle of next year. But it needs the three independent MPs to ensure the policy's passage through the Legislative Assembly. The Opposition, which has the balance of power in the Legislative Council, yesterday refused to back the policy, describing it as haphazard. This is despite the former Kennett government considering support for a Wesley Central Mission-style heroin hospital before losing the election. Former health minister Rob Knowles said he had backed a comprehensive health clinic for "chaotic" drug users. "I can confirm that we had been discussing how we would deal with a better primary health care system for chaotic users," he said. "We were looking at ways to keep these chaotic users alive." But the Denis Napthine-led Opposition has cited concerns including whether injecting houses would be established near schools and kindergartens, the legal implications, what age restrictions would apply and whether councils would have veto powers. Dr Napthine said the term "safe injecting facility" was a misnomer. "There is no way you can describe a facility, no way the government can pretend that injecting illegal and lethal substances into any person in any environment is safe," he told parliament. The Herald Sun reported on Monday Health Minister John Thwaites had confirmed councils would not have veto over the location of up to five heroin injection rooms. But he has also made it clear the clinics will not be forced on any council and there will be a full consultative process. - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto