PM OUSTS DRUG ADVISERS IN ZERO-TOLERANCE STAND

The Prime Minister has conducted a purge of his main drug advisory body,
replacing many advocates of drugs law reform with supporters of the
zero-tolerance approach.

It is believed five members of the Australian National Council on Drugs,
which is headed by the Salvation Army's Major Brian Watters, will be not
have their terms renewed.

They will include the outspoken founder of Family Drug Support, Mr Tony
Trimingham, and Mr Wesley Noffs, also a strong advocate of harm
minimisation policies.

Professor Wayne Hall, the respected head of the University of NSW's
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, has resigned.

Ms Karen Hart, the former head of the national School Principals
Association and a supporter of realistic and practical drug education in
schools, and Jude Byrne, a representative of drug users, will also be removed.

The Prime Minister's changes to the 15-member council, expected to be
announced today, will significantly change the balance of views on the
advisory body, with a majority supporting a tough-on-drugs line and
removing direct representatives of youth, schools, drug users or families
affected by drugs.

Last night the Federal Opposition, drug and alcohol experts and the Uniting
Church's Rev Bill Crews lashed out at the move, accusing the Government of
closing its eyes to the realities of modern drug treatment and
rehabilitation philosophies.

Mr Crews said: "To my way of thinking, Tony Trimingham was one of the best
people to come along in 30 years in this area ... for 30 years, things have
just been getting worse. By taking him out of an advocacy role and others
like him who favour a harm-minimisation approach, all we are doing is
condemning society to more of the same ... and we have seen that in places
like Cabramatta it's just getting worse.

"Just at a time when society is starting to realise that we need different
approaches and we are lurching towards an understanding that new ways have
to be tried, new ways like harm minimisation, the PM is moving the other way."

The five members who will not continue on the council are expected to be
replaced by:

Ms Ann Bressington of the South Australian Drugbeat project and a
zero-tolerance and naltrexone proponent.

Mr David Crosbie of the Victorian Odyssey House program representing
abstinence-based treatments.

Mr Garth Popple of the NSW WHOS program and another representative of the
abstinence-based Narcotics Anonymous program.

Dr John Saunders, a Queensland-based academic researcher who will replace
Professor Hall.

One other unconfirmed representative of abstinence-based treatments is
believed to be from Alice Springs.

Members of the council who will remain include Mick Palmer, the former
Federal police commissioner; Major Watters; Professor Ian Webster,
president of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia; Professor
Margaret Hamilton of the Victorian Turning Point program; NSW magistrate Mr
Craig Thompson; Toni Miller of the Tasmanian Tough Love organisation; and
the Tasmanian Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr Jack Johnson.

Drug and alcohol experts condemned the move last night, saying the
exclusions could only be attributed to the representatives' attitudes to
reform.

The Federal Opposition spokeswoman on health, Ms Jenny Macklin, criticised
the timing of the announcement, saying it was delayed until after the Ryan
by-election.

The launch of the Government's Illicit Drugs Campaign is tentatively set
for March 25.