Matt Johnston: Premier Daniel Andrews’ change of heart is all about politics

DANIEL Andrews pointed to a nearby ambulance and said the apparent overdose a few hundred metres from a school was a stark example of the need for a new policy on injecting rooms, writes Matt Johnston.

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews announces a supervised injecting room for North Richmond. Picture: Nicole Garmston

DANIEL Andrews pointed to a nearby ambulance after announcing plans for Victoria’s first medically supervised injecting centre on Tuesday.

The Premier said the apparent overdose a few hundred metres from a school was a stark example of the need for a new policy.

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A few weeks earlier, Andrews would have done anything to avoid drawing attention to that scene. That was when he still said: “We have no plans to introduce a facility like that”.

So, what changed?

The Premier said he couldn’t ignore the number of people who have died lonely deaths in North Richmond streets. He first began to reconsider the matter after a mother called a radio station in July to discuss her son’s overdose death in a car.

What shouldn’t be underestimated is the support — or at least co-operation — of Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and paramedics.

The location of the proposed supervised injecting room in North Richmond. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The centre on Lennox St, Richmond is the proposed location of a supervised injecting room trial.

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Andrews tried to claim politics had nothing to do with his change of heart, but whatever he argues, this issue has always been about politics.

Dozens of people have died every year in North Richmond, but Labor hasn't budged before. With the party now confronted by the threat of the Greens challenging in a swathe of inner-city seats, things have shifted.

Cleverly, former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett has been appointed chair of the expert review panel that will oversee its introduction. But this backflip isn’t without big risks.

Many voters in seats where Greens are something you eat will view this as giving in to dealers and the “war on drugs”. Labor thinks they can assure those voters an injecting room won’t be coming to a street near them.

Northcote, where Labor is brawling with the Greens in a by-election for one seat in the Legislative Assembly, is associated with the timing of this announcement. Whatever the rationale, 88 seats are up for grabs next year.

Andrews said in Parliament the Coalition shouldn’t ignore the misery and harm addicts endure for “political gain”.

In other words, don’t argue what Labor and the Premier did until Tuesday.