Since the Richmond drug-injecting centre opened, drug use, drug deals and possession have soared, with robberies, stalking, syringe litter and threatening behaviour also seeing a marked increase. Do we really want similar problems exploding in the heart of Melbourne? Please make sure that the government stops its unpopular and undemocratic plans to open a second failed drug-injecting centre.

Australia’s flopped ‘Harm Minimisation’ drug policy began in the 1980’s and has been the cornerstone of an ineffective drug policy for more than 30 years, resulting in a neglect of effective primary prevention, and Australia becoming one of the highest users (per capita) of illicit drugs in the world. Drug injecting-centres are part of this disastrous failure. Compassionate law enforcement approaches overseas, for instance in Sweden and the US, are achieving reduced drug use rates, through early intervention and recovery-based rehabilitation. Australian drug policy needs a complete overhaul and Victoria should scrap Richmond’s injecting centre. Please bring this to the attention of parliament.

Parliament has refused to admit that its purchase of a building in Flinders Street for $40m is preparation for the second injecting centre, a possibility rigorously opposed by city council, traders, residents, and police. Rita Panahi says, “Melbourne’s CBD needs a massive boost in investment, people and activity to return the city to its former glory. What it does not need is a drug injecting room in Flinders Street that will attract addicts, drug dealers and the sort of depraved behaviour we have seen around Richmond’s supervised injecting centre.” In good times, more than 90,000 passengers a day use Flinders Street Station. Two of the city’s busiest tram routes run along the road. State government’s proposal puts the needs of a few ahead of the safety of the many. Please stop plans for a second drug-injecting centre and scrap the Richmond trial.