NSW: Heroin injecting rooms given the go ahead by Supreme

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2001
NSW: Heroin injecting rooms given the go ahead by Supreme

SYDNEY, April 5 AAP - Australia's first legal heroin injecting rooms are set to open
within weeks in Sydney's red-light district after the Supreme Court today dismissed a
challenge by local business groups.

The Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce had challenged the validity of the licence granted
to the Uniting Church by the NSW police commissioner and the health department to operate
the centre at 66 Darlinghurst Road.

However Justice Brian Sully today dismissed the action, finding the commissioner and
the department's director general had "acted reasonably and within the statutory criteria
correctly construed".

He also found there was "no current lawful impediment" to the Uniting Church operating
the centre.

Justice Sully said the heroin trial raised "large questions of public policy, of public
morality, of social philosophy, of social policy, and of social welfare".

But he said it was not the function of the court to make a judgment on this.

Justice Sully refused an application by the Chamber of Commerce for a stay on the decision.

The chamber's vice-president, Malcolm Duncan, said they would consider an appeal, which
would have to be lodged today.

AAP dmc/rp/was/bwl

KEYWORD: HEROIN

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