Pubdate: Sat, 20 May 2000
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: News Limited 2000
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Author: Ben Mitchell And Nicole Strahan
Note: Discussion of injecting room trials halfway thru

MCNAMARA BLAMED FOR BY-ELECTION LOSS

THE National Party in Victoria had only itself and its former leader, Pat 
McNamara, to blame for last weekend's shock by-election loss in Benalla, 
party heavyweight Peter McGauran said yesterday.

As the Victorian Nationals gathered to discuss splitting from the Liberals, 
the party's most senior Victorian federal MP said severing ties would serve 
no purpose. He said the by-election loss was a voter backlash against Mr 
McNamara's decision to quit politics. "Of course Pat McNamara should have 
stayed . . . because people will punish any political party whose members 
are seen to take them for granted and just to use them for their own 
convenience," said Mr McGauran. "We've paid a heavy price for having a 
by-election."

Victorian National Party leader Peter Ryan refused to be drawn on Mr 
McGauran's comments, but many Nationals are privately seething about Mr 
McNamara's hurried departure.

Labor's Denise Allen was declared the new member for Benalla yesterday, 
after almost 100 years of conservative party representation in the seat. 
Labor won the seat from the Nationals with an 8 per cent swing.

The Victorian Nationals announced yesterday a formal review of the 
by-election loss, which will include an examination of the Liberal 
coalition partnership.

Mr McGauran, the federal Arts Minister, said the Benalla loss had 
significant implications for the federal Government, which will go to the 
polls next year.

"Of course, there's a federal flow-on because every country seat in 
Victoria is marginal, whether state or federal," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bracks Government yesterday faced another challenge to its 
trial of five heroin-injecting rooms.

Councillors of the City of Greater Dandenong, considered one of Melbourne's 
heroin trouble spots, is expected to reject the plan on Monday night.

David Penington, the chairman of the Government's drug expert committee, 
said the move was too hasty, but Greater Dandenong Mayor Angela Long 
defended the council's position, saying community views could not be ignored.

She said residents had made their opposition clear and it was time for 
consultation to end. "A survey taken at a public forum was 90 per cent 
opposition," she said. "There are many concerns it will attract people from 
other areas to use and deal, creating a honey-pot effect."

The Bracks Government has promised councils the final right of veto over 
injecting rooms.

Dr Penington said he remained confident injecting facilities would be 
established in St Kilda and Collingwood.

The cities of Maribyrnong and Melbourne are still consulting with their 
communities.

The Government hopes to pass enabling legislation for the 18-month trial in 
the spring session of parliament, but is reliant on the Opposition to 
approve it in the upper house.

The Liberal Party will not declare a position on the facilities until after 
reviewing draft legislation.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart