INJECT ROOM SUPPORT

IF elected, a Beazley government would support setting up supervised heroin
injecting houses.

In its draft policy platform released yesterday, the Labor Party said
injecting houses would provide drug users with counselling rehabilitation.

"Labor realises that an effective illicit drugs strategy must address all
areas of drug use and have harm minimisation as its central element," the
policy states.

Labor also proposes setting up specialist drug courts and diversionary
programs to keep addicts out of the citninal justice.

The policy platform will be debated at the ALP national conference next month.

The Opposition's "Knowledge Nation" policy also proposes boosting business
research and development, university research and Commonwealth investment
in education, training and research.

National literacy and numeracy strategies would be bolstered by basic
skills tests and more teacher training.

Labor leader Kim Beazley said the ALP's reform agenda was being underpinned
by traditional values of justice, fairness and equity.

Rollbacks of the GST would be made in education, health, charities, small
businesses and for the disadvantaged.

The party would abolish Australian workplace agreements and promote
collective bargaining.

As well as restating its commitment to strengthening Medicare, Labor
reaffirmed its commitment to an Australian republic and an Australian head
of state.