Daniel Andrews and Labor have been exposed secretly pushing ahead with their plan of a second injecting room in Melbourne’s Flinders Street precinct.
It is reported today that not-for-profit community health organisation cohealth is likely to run a CBD injecting room, with the State Government confirming it was the preferred prospective provider.
This flies in the face of claims that “no decision” has been made on a second injecting room.
Daniel Andrews continues to hide the Ken Lay report which reviews the need for a second injecting room.
The review did not consult key stakeholders such as Victoria Police or impacted businesses in the renowned Degraves Street.
The failed Richmond trial has resulted in an increase of illicit drug use, increase in heroin-related deaths within 1km, increase in crime, increase in drug dealing on-site and exposed neighbouring primary students to sexual acts and deceased bodies as a result of overdose.
Labor set the KPIs for their own trial – and it has failed on every metric. To now impose another facility in the heart of our CBD is ludicrous. It defies logic.
Only the Liberals and Nationals have a real solution to offer hope to Victorians battling drug addiction.
Our plan will introduce 180 withdrawal and rehabilitation beds across the state, but also introduce an Australian-first hydromorphone treatment program that is the international gold standard in heroin treatment.
Emma Kealy MP
Shadow Minister for Mental Health