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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 349 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

I also commend the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health for its report, released last June, which was the starting point for the heroin pilot task force. I would also like to commend the ACT and the wider community for their participation in what I think was a very mature debate about a very controversial issue. The level and standard of participation were the whole strength of this consultation process.

Heroin use affects the whole community. It is not something to which we can simply turn a blind eye or for which we can find a magic cure that will make it all go away. The intensity of comment during the consultation showed how strongly people felt, both for and against proceeding with this trial. A common theme in the letters I have received, and I am sure that many other members of this Assembly have received them, is an understanding of the loss of control that people dependent on heroin experience. They cannot give up, no matter how hard they try, in many circumstances. Fortunately, however, in time many do manage to stop using; health workers sometimes refer to this as maturing out of drug use. Often this takes a long time, during which people remain at risk of poor quality dangerous drugs and a lifestyle centred on drug use. I have often said that I would not turn my back on people simply because they have a drug dependency, and so have others in this Assembly. However, when we offer them support, we need to know that we have effective responses, that we do have safer alternatives, not just a limited range of responses that do not meet people's needs while they are in an active drug-using phase.

The task force, after listening to a range of views, recommends that the ACT Government proceed to Pilot 1 of a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a heroin prescription as an additional maintenance option. I recognise that this will not be an easy step and will require substantial debate in this place. It is important for members of this Assembly to take note that the recommendation is not a final decision on this matter, merely one in a long and complex process.

With the Assembly's support, the Government intends to continue consultation through such mechanisms as the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy. The Government also intends to consult with Commonwealth and State Ministers. It is important for members to note that the report needs to be read in the context of an ongoing debate at the political, local and national levels. With the Assembly's agreement, I will be approaching these people once the outcome of the election is known.

Mr Berry: Has the Government made a decision endorsing it?

MRS CARNELL: I ask members to read the task force report carefully and to consider the arguments. I think it is very important here not to take the approach Mr Berry is taking to this statement. It is absolutely essential that we continue to make this very complex issue as apolitical as possible. We have always said, and will say again, that we will not proceed with a heroin trial in the ACT if there is not the support of the other States and the Federal Government. That is why I am asking the Assembly, when we come to debate this issue, for the okay to take the matter now to other State Health Ministers, to the ministerial council involved, to see whether we have the support of other governments. I understand that Mr Connolly and, I think, Ms Follett

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