Traders say consultation period used as excuse to delay the release of injecting room report

The Andrews government is under fire from city traders for further delaying a controversial report on the CBD injecting room.

City traders have questioned a state government pledge to carry out further consultation for the controversial second injecting room after a new financial report showed there had actually been no further money set aside for this process.

The Andrews government had cited consulting with Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria as a key reason why a long-awaited report – being overseen by former top cop Ken Lay – into the CBD injecting room has not been released.

But traders and the opposition have claimed that this need for further consultation is being used as an excuse to delay releasing the report until after the November election.

There are concerns the second injecting room will affect city traders. Picture: Jason Edwards

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed earlier this month that Victoria Police had not been spoken to over the second CBD injecting room for more than a year.

The Department of Health’s annual report shows no money has been set aside for Mr Lay’s consultation process for the current financial year which ends at the end of June next year.

The preparation of Mr Lay’s tightly held report has cost taxpayers $169,277, which included $40,793 in the year to June 2022.

The state government – which has bought the former Yooralla building on Flinders St for $40.3m – has maintained a location for a second injecting room has not been finalised.

Degraves St traders Johnny Sandish (right) from XpressoMondo and Theo (left) from The Quarter. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Johnny Sandish, managing director at Xpressomondo cafe in Degraves St, said traders had not been consulted by Mr Lay or the state government about a second injecting room in the CBD.

“I’ve never met or spoken to Mr Lay and traders should be consulted as an injecting room in the city will impact all of us,” Mr Sandish said.

“We deserve answers on what is causing the report’s delay because if there’s no money to carry out further consultation, then how can we be included in this process?”

Tony Roussos, who owns Degraves St cafe The Quarter, said he also had no consultation with Mr Lay.

“We are major stakeholders as we’re nearby the proposed injecting room site, so we should definitely be considered in this process,” he said.

Opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy said: “The underspend on the consultations shows that Labor had already made its mind up when spending $40m on the Yooralla building and the consultation process is purely a box ticking exercise.”

“Again, Labor is showing its contempt for Melbourne CBD businesses and the millions who pass through the city streets,” Ms Kealy said.

“It’s clear the reason for further consultation is being used as an excuse to delay the release of the report until after the state election.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Mr Lay has been engaged to continue his work as the report has not yet been completed.”

“Mr Lay’s work has involved targeted consultation with key stakeholders including Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police,” she said.

Mr Lay will continue his work into the next year through a contract variation.