Pubdate: Mon, 09 Aug 1999
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 1999 David Syme & Co Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theage.com.au/
Author: Ewin Hannan

STATE STILL PONDERING DRUG TRIAL

Legislation allowing safe injecting facilities would be introduced in
the next parliamentary session if the State Government decided to back
the proposal.

The Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, said yesterday that the Government had
still to decide whether to follow New South Wales' move and approve
the establishment of a safe injecting facility.

If the Government did proceed, only one facility would be set up a
trial basis. And legislation would have to be passed by State
Parliament before the Government proceeded.

``If we're going to do it, we'll do it in the next session,'' he said.
``We have not made that decision.''

Mr Kennett said the Government was prepared to act against any
authority that sought to go-it-alone on safe injecting facilities.

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