The $95.11 million Statewide Action Plan will invest in a new community health hub in the CBD, increase pharmacotherapy services in up to 30 locations and deliver vending machines with overdose treatments.

Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Paul Guerra said: “This decision reflects the feedback that the Victorian Chamber provided to the inquiry, so we are pleased with the pragmatic and respectful outcome.

“As a compassionate and inclusive business community, we want to see our vulnerable taken care of, which will have a positive impact also on ambience and the perception of safety in our city.

“No business wants an injecting room on their doorstop, but I think everyone agrees that something needs to be done to address drug use in the CBD.

“We are pleased that the State Government is allocating resources to help address this societal issue and we look forward to continuing to provide the business perspective, as we have up until now.”

Consultation

Victoria’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) was initially trialled for five years in North Richmond before the Victorian Government introduced legislation in 2023 to make the service there ongoing.

In 2020, Former Police Commissioner Ken Lay AO, APM was appointed to lead an independent consultation with stakeholders, including residents, businesses and health experts on a similar service in the City of Melbourne.

His final report, Proposed Medically Supervised Injecting Service trial consultation, acknowledged feedback from the Victorian Chamber, noting “concerns about reductions in business viability, as well as concerns around safety of staff and customers” in balancing the needs of the most vulnerable.

Mr Lay ultimately recommended to trial a second room in Melbourne’s CBD, which the State Government “supported”, but “has been unable to identify a suitable site that balances the needs of people who use drugs with the needs of the broader CBD community, so a second supervised injecting service won’t proceed”.

Statewide Action Plan

Instead, as part of the $95.11 million Statewide Action Plan, the Government pledges to act on other recommendations of the Lay Report by:

• Boosting pharmacotherapy to treat opioid dependence in up to 30 locations through a grants program targeting areas of high-demand or looming service gaps
• Trialling 20 Naloxone vending machines to dispense the overdose reversal medicine
• Trialling a ‘Never Use Alone’ overdose prevention and response helpline which will provide anonymous care and advice
• Continuing and expanding cohealth teams and funding a trial of street outreach services in two new locations outside the CBD
• Partnering with cohealth to establish a new Community Health Hub at 244 Flinders St, which will be a gateway for wraparound health and social support services “when it opens in 2026”.
• Trialling a Victorian-first hydromorphone treatment for select participants identified by cohealth
• Delivering further services at the Salvation Army centre at 69 Bourke St – providing medical, nursing and mental health supports.
• Appointing Victoria’s first Chief Addiction Adviser within the state’s health system to develop Victoria’s first long-term statewide strategy to address drug harms.
• Engaging multiple agencies, health providers and community in a CBD Reference Group to coordinate a local response.

The Government also responded to a review of the existing MSIR in North Richmond and, from 1 July, North Richmond Community Health will enhance its current services there in partnership with St Vincent’s, Access Health and Community, and Your Community Health.

Premier Jacinta Allan said: “People struggling with addiction deserve our care wherever they are, and our statewide plan will save lives with a new community health service for the city while boosting support services in our suburbs and regions.”

Victorian Chamber advocacy

As Victoria’s peak business body, the Victorian Chamber offers information, support and advocacy for our community of members and clients to ensure a diverse and robust business community in Victoria.

For more information on the Victorian Chamber’s advocacy work, please visit the Policy and Advocacy section of our website.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved in our broader advocacy work, please contact us via policy@victorianchamber.com.au