MP’s drugs push: Call to ‘inject’ facility

ERIN PEARSON
STATE Government should investigate installing safe injecting rooms in Geelong after three drug overdose deaths last week, according to an MP.
Labor Member for Lara John Eren said the deaths could have been prevented.
He urged State Government to make some “tough decisions” on Geelong’s drug problem.
Mr Eren wanted a “multi-pronged attack”.
“Drugs are a big, big problem in the community,” he said.
“State Government needs to look at increasing support for drug services, providing more beds in detox centres and the use of safe injecting rooms. The deaths on the weekend could have been prevented if someone had been supervising.
“These were someone’s brothers, sons, and cousins.”
Liberal South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said he would oppose any bid for safe injecting rooms in Geelong.
“Those who support them are fine with the idea as long as they’re not next to their house or their suburb. That is the problem with safe injecting rooms: nobody wants them in their area or suburb,” Mr Katos said.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to see one in South Barwon.”
A City of Greater Geelong spokesman said council had no “immediate plans” for safe injecting rooms but its drug policy was based around “harm minimisation”.
The Independent reported in May that Geelong Police believed that increasing heroin use was partly to blame for a 60 per cent increase in thefts around the city.
Thieves ransacked more than 30 stores and 250 cars in April.
Victoria Police declined to comment on the call for Geelong drug-injecting rooms, saying the issue was for State Government.
Premier Ted Baillieu overruled a proposed Yarra Council safe injecting room trial in May.
His spokesperson said the Baillieu Government opposed injecting rooms.