NCA SHOULD STAY OUT OF POLITICS: COSTELLO

Treasurer Peter Costello today said the National Crime Authority (NCA)
should stick to fighting crime and leave policy matters to the politicians.

The NCA, Australia's top crime fighting body, yesterday supported a
legalised heroin trial, with addicts supplied out of a government repository.

But Mr Costello said he did not support heroin trials, saying drugs were
bad and people should be warned against them.

"My view is that the National Crime Authority should be fighting crime and
it ought to be leaving policy matters to the elected representatives."

"They're (drugs) a bad thing.

"I don't support heroin trials. I never have," Mr Costello told reporters.

Prime Minister John Howard has also rejected the NCA report, while
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Labor was open to considering any
proposal for such a trial.

Mr Costello said endorsing heroin trials would send mixed messages to drug
users, particularly young people.

"I don't believe that we should be sending a mixed message at all," he said.

"Drugs are bad and we should be warning Australians, particularly young
Australians, not to have anything to do with them.

"We shouldn't be sending a mixed message that somehow we approve or somehow
they're permissible.

"They'll do you damage. Don't take them."