Pubdate: Fri, 26 May 2000 Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times Contact: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/ Author: Liz Armitage RUGENDYKE THREAT TO BLOCK BUDGET The ACT Budget faces a stormy passage through the Assembly, with Independent Dave Rugendyke threatening yesterday to block the entire Budget because of the injecting room. The Government needs the support of two cross-benchers to get its Budget over the line. Chief Minister Kate Carnell said this week her Government would stand or fall on its Budget. It was an all-or-nothing matter and the Government would not allow the Budget to be picked over the line by cross-benchers. The Budget allocates $800,000 to set up the ACT injecting room in 2000-01. Mr Rugendyke said there were good aspects in the Budget but he had to stand by his principles. "I am not going to allow the shooting-gallery funding to sit on my conscience," Mr Rugendyke said. "I cannot desert my conscience for the sake of your Budget," he told the Assembly. "If this is an all-or-none Budget you are going to need the Labor Party to get it passed." Labor Leader Jon Stanhope said last night Caucus had not yet made a decision but "it's quite likely that we will not be supporting the Budget this year". He added, "Mr Rugendyke's view isn't relevant to the Labor Party's consideration of its position." The other three cross-benchers said it was too early to say if they would support the Budget. But Greens Member Kerrie Tucker said Mr Rugendyke would not influence her decision. "He's attempting to hold the whole Assembly to ransom by saying he's not going to support anybody who is going to put money into the safe injecting room." Mr Rugendyke also warned that, "if the Labor Party gains Government I would not support a shooting gallery either". United Canberra Trevor Kaine said he had shared Mr Rugendyke's concerns about the injecting room. "But I don't think I have a right to refuse a Government's Budget on that issue alone." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D