Drug Law Reform activists occupy

NT Chief Health Officer's Darwin office

Six members of the Network Against Prohibition have today peacefully occupied the office of NT Chief Health Officer Dr Shirley Hendy. Hendy is responsible for the situation faced by 40 dependent opiate users who will be unable to access opiate based drugs for treatment from July 8th.

The Network Against Prohibition has demanded that Dr Hendy resign immediately, and that the NT Government establish a clinic that will provide a range of opiate based drugs to opiate dependent Territorians.

Today's action was taken to highlight this draconian human rights abuse. NAP members occupied the office shortly after 12.30 (AEST). Department of Health and Community Services staff could not provide an adequate response to our demands.

The six left the building after being asked to do so by a member of the NT Police Service. Human rights activists and drug law reform activists are gearing up for an international day of action for the Darwin 40 on Monday the 8th of July, and will continue to campaign around this issue.

NAP Coordinator Gary Meyerhoff said "there seems to be a hidden agenda here, it appears that the NT Labor Government is continuing the CLP policy of running opiate users out of the Northern Territory. Dr Pang is the seventh doctor that has been persecuted because of this issue."