CHIEF Minister and Health Minister Katy Gallagher says the Government has rejected none of the recommendations of the controversial Burnet report into the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The Chief Minister today tabled the ACT Government’s final response to the independent report’s Evaluation of Drug Policies and Services at AMC.
“There are no recommendations which the Government has rejected in its final response,” she said.

“The Government has responded to each recommendation from the report along with anticipated timeline for completion of supported recommendations.”
The report addresses a number of issues within AMC including improved access to primary health services and therapeutic programs and blood-borne virus testing and prevention.

As a result of the report, the Government earlier this year began research into the trialling of a needle and syringe program at AMC.

The research is currently being undertaken by former MLA and ACT Health Minister Michael Moore, who is Public Health Association of Australia CEO.
The research includes looking at potential models, barriers in implementation and how to overcome them.

Ms Gallagher said the report will be released in the next month.

Shadow Health Minister Jeremy Hanson has been openly opposed to the introduction of a needle and syringe program at AMC and says the prison system should be trying to break the cycle of a drug addiction.

He said the Burnet report has addressed failings, but he doesn’t believe it eradicates the problems.

Editor’s note: Michael Moore is a former MLA and currently political columnist for “CityNews”.