AUSTRALIA MOVES TO STOP HAVENS FOR HEROIN USERS

THE Australian prime minister, John Howard, moved yesterday to block plans
to establish safe injecting rooms for heroin addicts, after warnings by the
United Nations that his government could be considered complicit in
drug-related crime.

Mr Howard's intervention follows a decree by the Vatican that an order of
Sydney-based Catholic nuns should abandon their plan to run the trial. He
acted after receiving advice from the UN International Narcotics Control
Board that the scheme was contrary to international drug control conventions
and could send a message "that Australia is a place where illicit substances
can be abused with impunity".

The board also gave warning that the image of Sydney, host city to the 2000
Olympic Games, would be blackened if the plans went ahead. Mr Howard, a
staunch opponent of injecting rooms - or "shooting galleries" as they are
known - has now written to Bob Carr, the New South Wales state premier,
urging him to abandon the trial.

He said he had so far taken the public position that the issue was a matter
for the state and territory governments. He said: "However, I cannot ignore
assertions that what is proposed could be in breach of Australia's
international obligations. I ask that you do not proceed . . . until the
Commonwealth, in discussion with the states and territories, has had an
opportunity to consider all the implications."

He made a similar appeal to the premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, and to
Kate Carnell, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory, who are
planning similar "shooting galleries". All three governments insisted last
night that their projects would go ahead as planned. John Della Bosca, the
New South Wales special minister of state, described as "extraordinary" Mr
Howard's 11th-hour concerns.

Mr Howard's intervention has prompted speculation that the federal
government may use the UN advice as a reason to pass legislation allowing it
to override the states and veto the trials.

Two Mormon missionaries ended up in hospital after unwittingly eating a
plate of cannabis cookies during a home visit.

Tom Pettit, a 19-year-old American in Australia to perform religious duties
for the Church of Latter Day Saints, told a Melbourne magistrates' court he
began to feel unwell as he cycled home and finally blacked out. Douglas
Lynch, 40, and Alexander McLean, 46, denied recklessly causing injury and
introducing a drug of dependence.

The case continues.