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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (16 February) . . Page.. 136 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

I think the thing that came through in the community meeting the other night - and many members were there - was that we need to have the broadest possible strategy to meet as many needs as we can. In some ways a small injecting place is a small part of that broad strategy, but of course it is also the most controversial part. As the most controversial part, it gets much more attention than it should compared to the others in the context of having a proper, sensible drug strategy. We do have to have a full, proper drug strategy that is based on the consultation that I have described on previous occasions. It started with the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Diseases Advisory Committee, SHABBDAC, that reported six months ago.

Mr Kaine, it is on the agenda in the context of broad government policy of getting the best possible drug strategy we can and one on which we have consulted very widely with all members of the community to try to make sure that we can get the best possible strategy with the least possible concern to the majority of people.

MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question. I notice that the Minister answering the question which I addressed to the Chief Minister in fact did not answer any part of my question, including the last bit about whether it is the shaggy tail wagging the brown dog. Having taken that one on board, the Minister might now like to answer the supplementary question. Minister for Health, do all members of the Government - including the backbenchers and the other Ministers and, dare I suggest, the Speaker - support this Carnell Government policy of a heroin injecting room?

MR MOORE: I am glad you asked that question. I am very happy to answer your question. This Chief Minister, both through the Third ACT Assembly and the Fourth ACT Assembly, has on a number of occasions been much more relaxed than those opposite about the notion of solidarity. To start off with, the fact that I am in the Cabinet is a good example that the Chief Minister does not believe that successful leadership necessarily requires solidarity on every single issue. Mr Kaine, when you were in a Liberal government, there were times when the Chief Minister said, "No, I am not going to demand solidarity on a particular issue". My understanding is that the Chief Minister is not going to demand solidarity from each member of the Liberal Party on this particular issue. It should be very clear, Mr Kaine, that the legislation that I tabled had passed through Cabinet and it is - - -

Mr Kaine: Shame, shame! Absolute shame!

MR MOORE: You may disagree with it, and you are entitled to do that, but to answer your question - - -

Mr Kaine: Look at you. You are supposed to be a bunch of Liberals.

MR MOORE: I am answering your question.

Mr Kaine: You are as far away from being a Liberal as Jon Stanhope is.

MR SPEAKER: Order! We have so far had two questions in 30 minutes.

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