Health Services Commissioner Mary Durkin has resigned in dismay from the CPSU over the union's bitter opposition to a needle and syringe program at Canberra's prison.
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Ms Durkin, a member of the Community and Public Sector Union for 31 years, told the union yesterday she would encourage other members to follow her lead and resign in protest at the union's stance.
The CPSU represents guards at the Alexander Maconochie Centre and strongly opposes a needle and syringe program trial at the prison.
About 10,000 of the CPSU's 60,000 members Australia-wide are prison guards.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said Australian prison guards were unanimously opposed to needle exchange programs being introduced in jails.
But, as The Canberra Times revealed yesterday, there is growing disquiet among other sections of the CPSU about the union's opposition to a needle exchange program being trialled at the AMC.
In a speech to University of Canberra graduates yesterday, former chief minister Jon Stanhope accused the CPSU, ACT Labor's largest affiliated union and equal in size to all the territory's other unions combined, of going against the interests of the rest of the left faction.
Mr Stanhope, a CPSU member, also accused the union of failing to represent the views of the majority of its members.
Ms Flood dubbed Mr Stanhope's attack ''extraordinary and misguided''.
And, she said, the union would make no apologies for representing the interests of its members.
''Some of our members oppose the war in Afghanistan - I'm not sure that means we should abolish the Defence Department.
''Jon Stanhope knows the difference between public policy and representing the rights of those implementing public policy.''
But Ms Durkin said public servants should implement - not seek to influence - government policy.
After forwarding her resignation email to colleagues, Ms Durkin met with Chief Minister Katy Gallagher to explain her decision.
''I'm concerned that it's being represented as the CPSU's members' concerns,'' Ms Durkin said. ''It's certainly not my concern.
''I suppose my view is that as union members working within government you're basically doing the work of Government.
''People I talk with in the wider community couldn't agree with the views that are being put as the views of the CPSU.
''In the community we try to stop the spread of blood-borne viruses, and I don't see why it should be denied to them once they end up in the AMC.''
Greens health and corrections spokeswoman Amanda Bresnan said Ms Durkin's decision reflected the level of community concern over the CPSU's position.
''I imagine it would have been a very difficult decision to make, and it wouldn't have been taken lightly but I applaud her for taking it.''
In a meeting last month with Ms Gallagher, CPSU delegates said AMC staff would block a needle and syringe program at every step, even if the Government made it a legal requirement for the operation of the jail.
Ms Gallagher, a long-term supporter of a prison needle and syringe program, said the CPSU had not sought to influence ACT Labor policy on the issue.
''And I think that is a reflection that the views of their broader membership are mixed.''
The Government is due to make its final decision on a trial needle and syringe program known soon.