RUSTY WOODGER
Couzens says no to injecting room despite shocking report
GEELONG MP Christine Couzens has reiterated her opposition to a safe injecting room in Geelong after a mother reported finding drug paraphernalia in a parents’ room at Westfield this week.
The mother, who declined to be named, said she saw two people using the Westfield parents’ room as a drug injecting room, leaving needles, blood and clothing on the floor on Tuesday.
Ms Couzens said the mother’s report was “deeply concerning” but she did not support a safe injecting room for Geelong.
“This is deeply concerning, and shows why we need to do more to both help people get off drugs, and stop young people from getting on them in the first place,” she said.
“I want to be really clear — I don’t think it (a safe injecting room) is appropriate for our city.
“What I do support is more investment in prevention programs and also more work to make sure our town has good jobs so kids have a bright future.”
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood declined to say if he would lobby the State Government for a safe injecting room in Geelong, but said there needed to be a broader discussion about drug use.
“I believe that a community discussion on safe injecting rooms could better educate on the pros and cons of such a proposal,” Cr Harwood said.
“The State Government would play a critical role in any discussion and implementation of a potential safe injecting room in our region.”
He said a safe injecting room could help reduce druginduced disadvantage in the region.
Liberal candidate for Geelong Freya Fidge and independent candidate Darryn Lyons have previously strongly opposed injecting rooms.