Regulated heroin supply will save lives: Greens

[Cate Faehrmann]

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MEDIA RELEASE
26 May 2004


Regulated heroin supply will save lives: Greens

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon congratulated Sydney Lord Mayor and Bligh MP Clover Moore today in calling for the decriminalisation of heroin during the Inquiry into the Redfern riots yesterday.

"The Carr Government is in the extraordinary situation where its only indigenous MP is saying that legalising heroin will eliminate the Block's drug trade, yet Mr Carr won't budge," said Ms Rhiannon.

"Those who argue loudly that decriminalisation of drugs will lead to more criminal behaviour and drug use have their heads in the sand.

"The Premier has double standards when it comes to drug treatment regimes for Kings Cross and Redfern. Why should the Cross have a safe injecting room but not Redfern? The Premier urgently needs to consult the Redfern community over this.

"The Premier needs to commit funding for health and social interventions on drug related matters to the same level as that provided for law and order measures. 
 
"The clashes in Redfern between the Aboriginal community and the police is strong evidence that the Government's zero tolerance approach to drug use is a complete failure.

"By providing more capacity, more quality and greater range of options for drug treatment the drug market will contract considerably.

"The Greens support all moves that will result in a harm minimisation approach to drug use instead of a criminal one.  

"The Greens support a regulated supply of drugs in places where there is clearly a need, like where backyard laboratories and drug dealers flourish and where kids are dying in laneways," said Ms Rhiannon.


More information :  Cate Faehrmann	9230 3551	0412 207 043





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