Source: Canberra Chronicle (Australia)
Fax: +61 2 6239 1345
Pubdate: Tue, 26 Jan 1999
Page: 7
Author: Andrew Dawson

TUCKER OFFERS DRUG ROOM HOPE

GREENS MLA Kerrie Tucker has urged Health Minister Michael Moore to salvage
his proposal for a safe injecting room by adopting a completely different
consultative process.

However, Mr Moore has questioned the drug law reform convictions of the
Greens and the ALP, saying "Kerrie Tucker and Labor have to take some
responsibility for the decision-making process and its urgency."

"We are talking about regular overdose situations and we are talking about
people who are dying because of this situation," Mr Moore said.

Ms Tucker said that although there were strong arguments for safe heroin
injecting rooms, the community must be given an opportunity to look at this
particular response to drug abuse in the context of an overall drug strategy.

"Mr Moore has promised a draft strategy in the near future for public
discussion and consultation, but there are many competing needs, and it's
important that priorities and policy are decided in partnership with the
sector," Ms Tucker said.

"Mr Moore's Ministerial statement on Harm Minimisation recognised the need
for both a partnership and a whole-of-government approach, and the
Government also has a consultative protocol outlining ways to allow
meaningful community involvement in government decisions.

"Unfortunately none of this is evident in the current process, and the
community is being largely excluded from one process to set-up a safe
injecting room

"Mr Moore is passionate about the issue of drug law reform, and I agree
with much of what he says on the issue.  But it's essential that proposals
such as this be put in the context of a broader discussion on a drug
strategy so community concerns can be heard and hopefully addressed. There
would then be a possibility that Mr Moore might get support from other
Members of the Assembly."

Mr Moore said there had already been widespread community consultation and
debate in the media about the sensitive issue of drug injecting rooms.

"The biggest difficulty is that whenever we face great objection from
particular segments of the community there are some in the Assembly who
suggest we put off the decision," he said. 
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