Fed: Public would be sceptical of ACT heroin room Wooldridge

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1999
Fed: Public would be sceptical of ACT heroin room Wooldridge

Health Minister MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE says the public will be sceptical about the ACT's
plans to set up a heroin injecting room.

Dr WOOLDRIDGE says the legislation, passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly last night,
is a matter for the territory.

But he believes Australians will be sceptical about it.

Asked if he thought there's a chance federal parliament could override the law as it
did with the Northern Territory's euthanasia law, Dr WOOLDRIDGE said he's had had no indication
of it.

Under the ACT's controversial legislation, the safe injecting room will be set up in
central Canberra for an initial trial period of two years.

ACT Health Minister MICHAEL MOORE says he's not concerned about the possibility of
federal intervention.

AAP RTV dep/msk/rp

KEYWORD: HEROIN ACT (CANBERRA)

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