DRUGS CHAIRMAN BACKS WATCHDOG CALL

AUSTRALIAN National Council on Drugs chairman and Salvation Army chief Brian
Watters has backed former Victorian police chief Neil Comrie's call for a
potent new statutory authority to oversee drug policy in Victoria. Mr
Comrie's call, rejected by Premier Steve Bracks in favour of a less
autonomous government advisory committee, was made at the drugs summit held
in state parliament on Wednesday.

Major Watters told The Australian yesterday the plan for an independent
authority "had a lot to recommend it".

"I think shifting it out of the political sphere, whilst retaining the
accountability through parliament, would be a good thing," he said. "One
thing is certain - it needs to be removed from party-political biases and
given powers to be properly effective."

Victorian Opposition Leader Denis Napthine also said he would continue to
push for a statutory authority, while welcoming an advisory council as a
short-term interim measure.

"Yesterday's announcement was a very significant small step in the right
direction," Dr Napthine said.

"(But) what we need to do is turn those small steps into giant strides by
moving from an advisory council to an independent statutory authority,
exactly along the lines that Mr Comrie recommended to parliament."

Dr Napthine said such a body - at arm's length from government - was
important to ensure a bipartisan approach.

The Opposition Leader also rejected the comments of his education spokesman, Phil Honeywood, who said earlier in the day that the summit had been
"window-dressing".

"I've spoken to Phil Honeywood and Phil Honeywood agrees with me that the
summit was a small step in the right direction," he said.