Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 Source: Australian Associated Press (Australia) Copyright: 1999 Australian Associated Press ACT PASSES SHOOTING GALLERY LAW The ACT government has passed legislation giving the go-ahead for a heroin shooting gallery in Canberra's city centre. Under the controversial bill which passed through the ACT legislative assembly last night, the safe injecting room will be set up in the suburb of Civic for an initial trial period of two years. It will be staffed by qualified health professionals who will provide addicts with counselling, referral and diversionary services. The experiment will be evaluated by independent scientific researchers. This is the second such safe injection room to be given the nod, following the passage of similar legislation through the NSW parliament in October. The ACT law passed after it won cross-party support with backing from the Labor opposition and some but not all government members. It was strongly opposed by three cross-bench members. ACT Health Minister Michael Moore, who has long pushed the need for alternative approaches to the drug problem including the unsuccessful move for a heroin trial, said the debate was passionate but mature. "Each of us has gone down a personal road to Damascus in realising that if we are to attack the problem of drug abuse, we must be prepared to try a wide range of approaches," he said in a statement. "The community is calling for leadership and the ACT government, like those of New South Wales and Victoria, is moving to provide it." The safe injecting room trial exemplifies the harm minimisation approach which aims to reduce the risk of death by overdose and infection caused by the use of unclean utensils. Moore said the ACT trial represented a small element of comprehensive approach to misuse of illegal drugs. He said he expected the facility would operate from March next year. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk