NCA CALLS FOR RADICAL HEROIN TRIAL

The National Crime Authority called yesterday for a medically supervised
heroin trial to help combat the drug trafficking and money laundering cycle
which was fuelling the pervasive spread of organised crime.

The NCA called on the Federal Government to consider options "previously
deemed unpalatable", such as treating the supply of addictive drugs as a
medical and treatment matter, "subject to the supervision of a treating
doctor and supplied from a repository that is government controlled".

But Mr Howard immediately rejected the proposal, telling Parliament "while
ever this Government is in office and while ever I am Prime Minister of
this country, there will be no heroin trial".

At the same time, Dr Alex Wodak, one of Australia's leading drug reformers,
said the NCA's support of new approaches was "a step in the right
direction" and should be encouraged as part of a national strategy against
drug abuse.

The NCA chairman, Mr Gary Crooke, admitting that the drug trial approach
was "pretty radical", said: "Everything should be considered, nothing
should be rejected, we've got a terrible problem here on our hands and the
essence of that approach is to attack the profit motive ...

"If something can be done to combat this enormous opportunity to make
profit and to control a price perhaps that is one of the many matters
worthy of consideration."

Mr Crooke, releasing the NCA's first public report into organised crime,
said that drug trafficking had "grown exponentially" and the profits had
"almost grown beyond comprehension". It should be given the same priority
and attention as threats to national security.

A trafficker could bring a kilogram of heroin into Australia for $9,000,
and sell it to a dealer for $90,000. Illicit drug abuse was costing the
country $1.7 billion annually, and Australia could not afford to be complacent.

Attacking the NCA's strategy, Mr Howard said: "I take this opportunity of
totally rejecting the suggestion raised by the chairman of the National
Crime Authority that consideration be given to a heroin trial.

"It remains the policy of this Government to totally oppose heroin trials
in this country. We will give no aid or comfort, or any encouragement, to
any State or Territory."

In a swipe at the crime authority, Mr Howard added that "those who advocate
heroin trials are misguided".

However, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beazley, said he would have "a
disposition to view it favourably" if any State approached him about a
heroin trial.

Dr Wodak, director of drug and alcohol services at St Vincent's Hospital,
said yesterday: "A heroin trial is not a panacea but it's a form of
treatment for a small group of people for whom no other treatment works.

"The problem we have is with an intransigent political leader, the prime
minister, who does not listen to the strengths of the arguments, including
from law enforcement bodies."

Dr Wodak said it was 20 years since a heroin trial was first recommended to
the Wran Government in NSW and 10 years since the ACT Legislative Assembly
proposed a trial involving giving prescription heroin to a small group of
addicts.

The NSW Government, which approved the opening of a medically supervised
injecting room in Kings Cross in May, said yesterday that it did not
support a heroin trial.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said NSW would however continue its policy of
evidence-based trials such as the injecting room, in tandem with tougher
jail penalties for drug dealers, and increased methadone and rehabilitation
funding.

The NCA also said that money laundering - a mainstay of organised crime -
was an "enormous" problem, involving $3 billion to $9 billion a year in
Australia.

Mr Crooke said it was being made easier by globalisation, and was "the
quintessential beneficiary of technological advances".

He said Australia's federal system was limiting the NCA's ability to
counter organised crime because State police forces only had power to
operate within State borders.

For example, warrants for listening devices were valid only within the
borders of one State.

Mr Crooke said efforts to fix this problem were continuing.