Victoria Abandons Plans for Second Safe Injecting Room Despite Report Recommendation

The Victorian government has decided to scrap plans for establishing a second safe injecting room in Melbourne's CBD, going against the advice of a report by former police commissioner Ken Lay. Premier Jacinta Allan announced that while the existing injecting room in North Richmond will remain open and receive extra funding, the government will not proceed with creating a new facility in the city center.

Lay's report had recommended exploring a supervised injecting service in the CBD, but the government cited the lack of a suitable location and the need for a statewide approach as reasons for rejecting the proposal. Instead, the government will allocate $95 million towards other health strategies, including a medical hub at Flinders Street and a new trial of a treatment for drug addiction.

The decision has been met with mixed reactions. Local traders and the police union have welcomed the move, while supporters of safe injecting rooms have criticized it, arguing that it will cost lives. They describe the government's choice as a "spineless captain's call" and point out that the situation has worsened since Lay's report was written.

Why this matters: The debate surrounding safe injecting rooms highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing drug use and harm reduction in Victoria. With over 549 drug overdose deaths in the state in 2022, the government's decision to prioritize a statewide approach over a second CBD facility has significant implications for public health and safety.

Medical professionals have expressed concern about the high number of overdose deaths, with 90% occurring outside the CBD. They argue that Melbourne needs more supervised injection facilities to tackle the issue effectively. The opposition leader has also questioned the location of the North Richmond facility next to a primary school and raised concerns about its future.

Premier Allan defended the government's stance, stating, "We remain committed to addressing the issue of drug use and harm reduction. The Ken Lay report was not a waste of time, and we will continue to support the existing safe injecting room in North Richmond while investing in other health strategies across the state."

Key Takeaways

• Victorian govt scraps plans for 2nd safe injecting room in Melbourne CBD.
• Existing North Richmond facility to remain open with extra funding.
• Govt cites lack of suitable location, need for statewide approach as reasons.
• $95M allocated for other health strategies, including addiction treatment trial.
• Decision met with mixed reactions, concerns over high overdose deaths in state.