Jacinta Allan’s government ordered to release long-delayed Ken Lay report into second injecting room

Victoria’s parliament has ordered Jacinta Allan’s government to release a long-delayed report into a second injecting room by former top cop Ken Lay.

The Allan government has been ordered to hand over a report from former top cop Ken Lay into an injecting room for Melbourne’s CBD.

The government has been sitting on the report since receiving it early last year, despite repeated calls for its public release.

On Wednesday the Legislative Council passed a motion requiring the Minister for Mental Health to produce the report.

It must be produced to the parliament by March 6.

The long-awaited report was due to be finalised at the end of 2020 but the government pushed it back blaming the Covid pandemic.

Mr Lay was also asked to rework an initial report because the state government was “not satisfied” with some findings.

Jacinta Allan’s government must release the report by March 6. Picture: Daniel Pockett

On Thursday, Oposition leader John Pesutto accused the Premier of “thumbing her nose” at Victorians.

“Let me remind Jacinta Allan and her government that the upper house of this parliament has resolved that her government should produce that report by no later than 6 March,” he said.

“If Premier Jacinta Allan is saying they will ignore that, that is an affront to this parliament.

“It is an undermining of transparency and scrutiny.

“All governments need to be responsible and accountable to the people for what they do.

“This parliament is the people’s house, so when Jacinta Allan says she’s not going to comply with orders of this parliament she is thumbing her nose at Victorians.”

The former Yooralla building on Flinders St has been earmarked as the site of a second injecting room. Picture: Mark Stewart

Multiple sources told the Herald Sun the initial report didn’t show an “immediate need” for a second injecting room in Melbourne’s CBD.

Debate has raged for years about a trial of a second injecting room in the CBD to work alongside the now permanent facility in North Richmond.

On Wednesday Shadow mental health spokeswoman, Emma Kealy, said the report was long overdue.

“For years Labor has kept its plans for a second injecting room a secret,” she said.

“Finally, Victorians will find out if Labor intends on bringing the issues that have plagued the

North Richmond injecting room to the doorstep of CBD businesses and residents.

“Labor can’t manage the mental health system and Victorians are paying the price.”

Children walk past intoxicated people. Richmond supervised injecting room on Lennox street.

Ken Lay completed a report into the need for a second injecting room. Picture: James Ross

Premier Jacinta Allan appeared to thumb her nose at parliament on Thursday over the threat.

Despite the motion, she said the government “will set the timeline” for the release of the Lay report, not the upper house.

“We will release the Lay report once we have made our final decision on the issue that is considered by Ken Lay,” she said.

“The government will set the timelines for both the release of the report in association with its decision on the report.”

She confirmed that the government was seeking advice on whether they were required to comply with the upper house motion.

“Yes, we are, as is normal practice on these sorts of motions,” she said.

“Advice will be sought.”

In 2020 a panel of experts recommended setting up a second safe injecting room in the City of Melbourne, near an illicit drug market and wider network of services.

But the recommendation has been plagued by widespread opposition and concerns from within government about the impact of a CBD facility.

A site on Victoria St, between Swanston St and Elizabeth St, opposite the Queen Victoria Market was announced as the government’s preferred location.

But the controversial decision sparked a war with the City of Melbourne over concerns it would kill the tourist mecca.

Flinders St emerged as another potential site after the government bought the Yooralla building opposite the rail station, which was listed at $45m-plus.

The council has resolved to support a safe injecting room to be located at an appropriate CBD location.