Vic: We re still committed to safe injecting plan: Thwaites

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-1999
Vic: We re still committed to safe injecting plan: Thwaites

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 AAP - The Victorian government remains committed to proposed safe
injecting rooms, despite calls from the prime minister to defer any trials.

Health Minister John Thwaites said today John Howard must be realistic about the issue,
with more than 300 Victorians dying from heroin overdoses this year.

Mr Thwaites said he was not concerned about a report from the United Nations International
Narcotics Control Board (INCB) that safe shooting galleries were contrary to international
drug control conventions.

"That prohibitionist stance, the traditional stance of the United States, has been
a disaster - they've got the worst drug problems in the world," Mr Thwaites told reporters.

"So we don't need them to tell us how to run our system in Victoria.

"We've got to try alternatives; we've got to save those lives and get the drug abuse
system off the streets into a safer environment."

Mr Thwaites said the state government would consult with the Commonwealth over Victoria's
plans to introduce five safe injecting rooms across Melbourne.

"But everyone must set aside their prejudices if we're going to actually save lives," he said.

"Too many young people are dying unnecessarily.

"The old traditional approaches just aren't working."

Mr Howard today ruled out intervening "at this stage" to halt state trials of heroin
injecting rooms, but urged they be deferred.

Mr Howard has demanded the New South Wales government put its injecting room plan trial
on hold pending a review of whether it would breach international treaties.

He has made similar pleas to Victoria and the ACT, which also are planning trials.

"I think Mr Howard has got to be realistic and understand we've got to have a comprehensive
approach to drugs, not a head-in-the-sand approach," Mr Thwaites said.

AAP ljm/er/cjh/br

KEYWORD: HEROIN THWAITES

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