Michaela Meade
Footscray is a city divided after Victorian crossbench MP Fiona Patten raised the idea of supervised injection rooms in key areas, including Footscray.
The Reason Party leader raised the issue earlier this month at a drug policy symposium in New Zealand’s federal parliament.
Two rallies took place in Footscray last week; a rally against an injection room took place on Wednesday, May 19, and a rally in support on Saturday, May 22.
Acting Premier James Merlino said the state government did not support a second supervised injecting room beyond the Melbourne CBD.
Community members held a rally in Footscray on Saturday in support of a supervised injection room in the suburb.
Victorian Socialists assistant secretary and rally organiser Liz Walsh said the support rally was a direct response to the anit-injecting room rally on Wednesday, May 19
“The rally on Wednesday night [was] right-wing populism at its worst,” Ms Walsh said.
“It is extremely disappointing to see [Maribyrnong]mayor Michael Clarke join forces with such a notorious conservative as Liberal Party MP Bernie Finn.
“Our rally on Saturday [aimed] to demonstrate that Bernie Finn and Michael Clarke do not speak for Footscray residents.”
Ms Walsh said her stance in support of the implementation of a supervised injection room was a community-minded one.
“Around the world, medically supervised injecting rooms have a proven record of saving lives, reducing ambulance calls outs, decreasing risks of HIV and Hepatitis C transmission, and supporting people who inject drugs to access other services that improve their health and wellbeing,” she said.
“Our rally [gathered] people who support healthcare and dignity for people living with drug addiction, as opposed to hysteria and misinformation.”
Maribyrnong councillor Jorge Jorquera told Star Weekly last week that there is more to be done to address the risks associated with drug use.
“In a city the size of Melbourne, a single supervised injecting centre isn’t enough to reduce the risk of overdose and harm.
“We need a network of centres across the city in order to save more lives, including in the inner west.
“The protest [against] on Wednesday night [was] pushed by the Liberal Party.
“Harm reduction should be at the heart of government responses to drug use and addiction.
“That’s why Victorian Socialists West is rallying Maribyrnong residents… in support of supervised injecting centres along with other harm reduction facilities like pill testing in the inner west.”
The rally was organised by Footscray resident Phoebe McDonald.
A change.org petition, started by rally organisers, had reached over 1000 signatures in one week.
Details: Change.org/FootscrayMSIR
