Injecting centre has saved lives: Keneally

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has urged MPs to back a bill making an injecting
centre in Sydney's Kings Cross permanent, saying the "groundbreaking service" has
saved lives, reduced disease and improved the amenity of the area.
The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) opened on a trial basis in May
2001, but in September NSW Premier Kristina Keneally announced the government would
legislate for it to become a permanent facility.
Speaking during a debate in the lower house on Wednesday night, Ms Keneally urged
MPs to consider the success of the centre when casting their vote.
The MSIC had managed more than 3,400 overdose cases, helped more than 12,000 drug
users, and referred more than 8,500 drug users to support services, Ms Keneally
said.
"It has saved lives, it has reduced disease risk, it has reduced incidents of public
injecting, it has brought people who live on the margins, who live on the edge, into
contact with health services and drug treatment services," Ms Keneally said.
"Formalising the service provides certainty. It provides certainty to the vulnerable
victims of drug addiction.
"It provides certainty to the local community who have seen a positive benefit to
their surrounding area, as a result of the medically supervised injecting centre. It
provides certainty to families, who are struggling with drug addiction."
Ms Keneally said that in an ideal world there would be no need for the MSIC.
"But we live in the real world and what we know in the real world is that people
struggle with drug addiction," she said.
Liberal MPs have been given a conscience vote on the injecting centre legislation
but government support assures it will pass through the lower house.
Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner told parliament that although she
"struggled with the concept of the injecting centre", she would back the bill.
"The message the centre sends that people can take drugs safely is not right ... I
have great difficulty also with the suggestion that we might be condoning illegal
actions," she said.
"However, it all comes down to those who use the centre.
"So, despite my personal discomfort, as an aspiring health minister with an abiding
determination to put patients first as a guiding principle, and being firmly of the
view that the MSIC helps people keep alive and improves their health and wellbeing,
I will be supporting this legislation."
Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell, who in the past has spoken out against the
centre, will debate the bill in the lower house on Thursday.