HOWARD ON A WINNER WITH BEER TAX TO HELP REFUGEES

He could not win with the prime ministerial line on drugs, but yesterday Mr
Richard Howard was onto a winner when he argued that Australia must do more
for refugees.

A 2c tax on beer would raise the necessary funds, the third-year University
of NSW student said. The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, might not agree,
but it was enough to sink his son's opponents, the Canberra-based
Australian National University.

It was all part of the cut and thrust of The Sydney Morning
HeraldAustralian Intervarsity Debating Championships involving 400 students
from 72 teams drawn from 22 universities.

Earlier, Mr Howard had tried to argue that the war on drugs should focus on
the family.

He lost.

It was a debate about priorities, a debate hampered by limited resources
and limited funds. The war against supply had not worked, he said.

"I'm not saying focus on the family to the complete exclusion of everyone
else," he said.

"But don't make [the fight against drugs] a mass approach ... We need to
deal with the addicted, to recognise they have a problem. It's one of the
most important things a family can do."

The opposing team, Macquarie University, hit back. Peer group pressure,
hardline parents and dwindling resources made winning the battle that much
harder.

Macquarie advocated involving families, schools and the community.

A government-sponsored information kit, delivered to the family home, would
barely scratch the surface, leaving many young addicts to "fall through the
cracks".