Coalition pledges drug jail to help addicts

The New South Wales Opposition says it will dedicate a specific jail to rehabilitating drug-addicted inmates if it wins office next year.

The proposal would see inmates undergo a treatment program with regular drug testing.
Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith says the chosen prison would likely be in the Sydney metropolitan area.
"We want to have a specific prison just as they have a specific prison for people with issues of violence and for serious sex offenders," he said.
"We believe they need intense treamtent and we want to have a situation where the jails are very secure from drugs being brought in, but we want to fight their problem while their in prison."
The Salvation Army's Gerard Byrne has welcomed the proposal, saying it will give better access to treatment for addicted prisoners.
"Certainly there have been some moves to provide drug treatment programs within the prison system in the past, but those places have been limited," he said.
"This initiative will expand the number of places significantly, and provide broader access to prisoners who have drug-related problems."