By Casey Neill
A Springvale-based legal service says claims it is seeking a local ice injecting room are completely untrue.
Liberal candidate for Mulgrave Maree Davenport posted the claim on her Facebook page on Thursday 12 April.
She shared a video from Opposition Leader Matthew Guy regarding State Government plans for a safe drug injecting room in North Richmond.
“The Springvale Monash Legal Service has called for at least one to be set up in Monash and Greater Dandenong – in Daniel Andrews’ electorate of Mulgrave,” she said.
SMLS executive director Kristen Wallwork said this claim was untrue.
“We had a very unfruitful conversation with Ms Davenport regarding her uninformed comments and have formally requested a retraction,” she said.
Dr Kate Seear is a Monash University academic who has a teaching role at SMLS.
She said Ms Davenport might have mistakenly attributed her individual comments to SMLS.
“I’m a drug researcher,” she said.
“I put a submission into the Victorian drug law reform inquiry.
“I gave the submission in my own name, in favour of injecting rooms.
“I made no comments about ice in my own submission.
“I don’t think I made any comments about specific locations either.”
Dr Seear said she spoke at an event a few months ago about multiple areas needing to be considered for safe injecting rooms.
“I have no problem if she wants to quote me as an academic,” she said.
“But I’m not employed by Springvale Monash Legal Service, I’m employed by Monash University.”
