VIC: Kennett set to look seriously at safe injecting rooms

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-1999
VIC: Kennett set to look seriously at safe injecting rooms

MELBOURNE, Aug 5 AAP - Victoria could start laying the groundwork for a trial safe
injecting room as early as next month, Premier Jeff Kennett said today.

Mr Kennett said he still had doubts about the benefits of safe injecting rooms, but said he
was prepared to try anything that would help heroin addicts.

"There are people who think it can save lives - and that is still to be determined.

"As I say, I'm not opposed to it in concept at all. All I want to know is that whatever we
do is going to improve the situation, rather than add to (it)," he told radio 3AW.

"I've got officers now looking at it ... if we can introduce legislation in this session to
set it up - if we believe that's the right way to go - we would do it."

Parliament is set to resume in late September, unless an election is called in the
meantime.

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KEYWORD: INJECT (CARRIED EARLIER)

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