PARTIES MAY JOIN FORCES OVER DRUGS

Victorian Parliament may hold a historic joint sitting to tackle the drugs
issue after the idea received support from the leading parties yesterday.

Premier Steve Bracks described the proposal, put forward by retiring police
commissioner Neil Comrie, as "attractive", while Opposition Leader Denis
Napthine said the move would be "a positive step foward".

Their comments came after Mr Comrie called for a 10-year bipartisan
strategy to tackle the drugs problem.

He was joined by a group of prominent Victorians including the Anglican and
Catholic Archbishops, former lord mayor Ivan Deveson, Essendon coach Kevin
Sheedy and the Royal Children's Hospital chief professor Glen Bowes.

Mr Bracks said he supported the idea of a 10year strategy to tackle the
supply of drugs while minimising their harm and preventing growth in use.

"I welcome the eminent Victorians to work with the government to tackle
drugs head-on," he said. "This sort of support is needed in Victoria."

Mr Bracks' plans for a trial of supervised injecting facilities was
rejected by the Liberal Party last year, but he said the government would
reintroduce its legislation "when the time is right".

He said he would seek discussions with Mr Comrie over the proposal for a
joint parliamentary sitting.

"On face value that looks an attractive proposition. If that helps bring
allparty support to the attack on drugs in Victoria, we will get behind
it," he said.

Dr Napthine welcomed Mr Comrie's call and said more emphasis needed to be
placed on educating young people about the dangers of drugs.

"I think there's an opportunity here to have a greater emphasis on
education and move away from the divisive issues such as heroin injecting
facilities and move on to the really important issues like educating our
young people so they say no to drugs," he said.

Dr Napthine said Mr Comrie's request for a joint sitting of parliament to
address the ongoing problems associated with drugs was "a positive step
forward in the very vexed issue of dealing with drugs in our society".

He also urged Mr Bracks to give his "favorable consideration" to the suggestion.