(Community Recognition Statement, 11 May 2022, Legislative Assembly NSW Parliament)

On behalf of the Sydney electorate, I congratulate the Kings Cross Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) on 21 years of service to the community on 6 May.

The MSIC was a key outcome of the 1999 Drug Summit, championed by then Bligh MP Clover Moore with strong support from residents and business operators who saw people dying and slumped in public from drug overdoses, along with used syringes. Rev Harry Herbert and the Uniting Care courageously took on managing the centre after the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney stopped the St Vincent's Hospital Sisters of Charity from running it. Three independent evaluations showed the MSIC has saved lives with no deaths or serious injury, successfully managing thousands of client drug overdoses. The MSIC has also referred thousands of clients to drug and mental health treatment. Ambulances and hospital emergency presentations dropped dramatically along with syringes in public places. I thank the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre for this amazing contribution and am pleased that the City of Sydney has granted the keys to the city to MSIC in recognition of lives saved, vulnerable people helped and amenity improved.