HOWARD MUST STOP THIS DRUGS NIGHTMARE

While using the public facilities in a fast-food outlet in Newtown at
the weekend, I had a shocking experience that perhaps Mr Howard and
his Cabinet should have witnessed. As I opened the door to the men's
toilet, I saw a child no older than two standing outside a toilet
cubicle. His father had passed out on the floor, pants around his
ankles, holding an empty syringe. The child looked at me with a
confused expression as if to say: "What is happening to my daddy?"

If this is not a clear indication that the Government needs to totally
rethink its drugs policy (such as allowing the shooting gallery
trials), I don't know what is.

Mr Howard, you should step out of your upper-class Kirribilli world
and step into that of "ordinary Australians" (a term with which you
seem very comfortable). If you don't initiate some change soon, even
"sorry" (a term with which you are not so comfortable) won't be enough
for that two-year-old "ordinary Australian".

Sam Shave,
Petersham