Safe drug injecting room Melbourne trial step closer

A MEDICALLY supervised drug injecting room trial in Melbourne is a step closer after what appears to be a backflip by the ­Andrews Government

A MEDICALLY supervised drug injecting room trial in Melbourne is a step closer after what appears to be a backflip by the ­Andrews Government.

The Herald Sun has been told “progress has been made” towards a state-first scheme, likely to be modelled on ­Sydney’s Kings Cross program.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews appears to have backflipped on the issue of a safe drug injecting room trial. Picture: AAP/Joe Castro

Support for a controversial pilot program has gathered momentum in the past year after it was revealed dozens of heroin addicts have died from overdoses in Melbourne’s inner north.

But Premier Daniel ­Andrews has spoken against the scheme in the past.

A recent parliamentary ­report into the issue did not recommend a pilot, but ­recognised the death toll from the heroin scourge.

Another parliamentary committee is considering drug law reform in Victoria and is likely to produce a report in a matter of weeks.

Labor is considering green-lighting the radical social ­reform in the midst of the Northcote by-election, which is shaping as a battle between Labor and the Greens.

The Greens have campaigned for an injecting room for years.

If Mr Andrews backflips on his opposition to the idea, it is likely to be seized upon by the Opposition, which is planning to run a massive law and order campaign next year ahead of the state election.

The Herald Sun has been told “progress has been made” towards a state-first drug injecting room scheme. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Coalition figures have ­already railed against any ­approval of drug use. But one Labor source said having the trial in the inner north such as Richmond North, where both parties ­battling for seats in parliament would back the plan, could limit any political fallout from a drug plan.

Key crossbench MPs in the Upper House also support the plan, meaning it could get through the parliament if ­legislation was required. ­

Reason party MP Fiona ­Patten, who wants to legalise drugs, said the injecting room should be adopted as soon as possible to save lives.

“The death toll to heroin overdose continues to grow and the government hasn’t acted,” she said.

“Think of the lives and sorrow we could have prevented if they had supported my Bill for a trial of a (centre) at the beginning of this year.

“This is an urgent health issue and the government must listen to the medical experts such as the AMA and the emergency workers facing this daily and initiate the trial.”

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