The Wire

Last week the debate about safe injecting rooms took a new turn with Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore calling them to be set up in Redfern and also calling for heroin to be decriminalised. Bob Carr began by rejecting both proposals but later said he would only support the facility if there was unanimous approval from police and local indigenous leaders. The push for a safe injecting room comes after claims that heroin was a central part of the Redfern riots in February. Many local residents are angry with Moore’s proposal, saying it will bring in more drug users from outside Redfern – some believe this has already happened with the introduction of a needle dispensing van operating in the area. Around 50 residents, from both the indigenous and non-indigenous community, gathered at ‘The Block’ in Redfern on Saturday to express their concerns. Elissar Mukhtar spoke to Mick Mundine, CEO of the Aborginal Housing Company, Richard local resident and heroin user, Nick local resident in Redfern, and Dr Alex Wodak, President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation.