Reverend the Hon. F. J. NILE: I ask the Attorney General a question without notice. What advice has he given to the Premier and what action has he taken or does he propose to take regarding the serious warning contained in a letter dated 20 August 1999 to Reverend Father John George of Waverley from the Secretary of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, which has received wide media publicity and which states that the Government’s proposed legal shooting gallery in Kings Cross would contravene the United Nations international drug control conventions? The letter states:
The Board’s view is that permission given by any state or local authority for the establishment and operation of public injection rooms or shooting galleries would . . . facilitate and encourage illicit trafficking, while Governments have the obligation to combat illicit trafficking in all its forms. In fact, the creation of such outlets for illicit drug use is contrary to the international drug control conventions. As opposed to any open drug scene which may escape from law enforcement actions, a Government by sanctioning shooting galleries, would implicitly also enhance trafficking.
In view of that statement, what advice or action does the Attorney General propose to take if this Government’s decision was challenged in the United Nations, the World Court or even in Australia’s High Court?
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