EX-NATIONAL MP CRITICISES PARTY'S 'CLOSED-MIND' ON INJECTION TRIAL

Ex-National Party MP Rob Oakshott has accused his former party of being
closed-minded and playing politics on the question of whether the Kings
Cross injecting room trial should be extended.

Debate began today in the New South Wales Parliament on the Government's
bill to extend the injecting room trial for another 12-months.

While the Liberal Party is being allowed a conscience vote on the issue,
National Party leader George Souris says the whole party is against the
trial, or any extension of it.

Mr Oakshott, now the Independent Member for Port Macquarie, says he will be
voting in favour of the bill because the injecting room proposal deserves
to at least be trialled.

He has lashed out at his former party, saying they are playing for votes.

"And we are again seeing the politics played where I know that the National
Party is not having a conscience vote on this legislation, I know that this
is a bloc vote by that National Party," he said.

"It is not correct to say it is a conscience vote, it is clearly a locking
in of a political position to campaign on for the next 12 months."

"The National Party will play the politics of the issue, will label it a
shooting gallery. They will try to whoop up the political position, the
scaremongering position."