Kings Cross Injecting Room, Sydney Australia

Reverend Harry Herbert

It looks like the controversial injecting room at Kings Cross will remain open. They now have 12,000 registered addicts on their books. The bill was passed this week with overwhelming support from both parties and will now move to the Senate where it's expected to get through with the help of the Greens.

Naturally, local business people are furious and say that Kings Cross will forever remain degraded by the injecting centre which is a "honeypot" for addicts. Local businessman Andrew Strauss has engaged lawyers to fight the decision. "It's unfair to residents, shopkeepers and school children who are forbidden to walk down Darlinghurst Road" he said.

NSW Liberal Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell voted against the bill saying it had failed to do what it promised - to try and get people off drugs. He thinks too much attention is paid to managing drug habits and not enough to "rescuing people from their terrible addiction". Opposition MPs were given a conscience vote, with seven voting in favour of letting it stay.

So who are the people running the show? Executive Director is Rev Harry Herbert, Minister of the Uniting Church in Australia. Graduate of Sydney, New South Wales, LaTrobe and Yale Universities. Former ministries Falls Village, Connecticut USA, Warrnambool, Victoria and Heidelberg Victoria. Their aim is to:

. reduce he morbidity and mortality associated with drug overdoses

. reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis B and C

. steer them into rehabilitation

. reduce "public nuisance" of people injecting in streets, parks and discarded syringes

If you go into their website you will see that this centre is run by good people who are helping to keep addicts alive and well. If you are ever unlucky enough to have a child addicted to drugs, you'll be glad places like this are available. I hope the Senate pass the bill.