THREAT TO POPPY BOOM

TASMANIA'S $170 million poppy industry would be devastated if heroin
injecting rooms were introduced in the state, the Poppy Advisory and
Control Board said yesterday.

The comments follow the news that Australia would be in breach of UN
obligations if any state set up the shooting galleries.

Prime Minister John Howard has urged states to abort plans after he
received a letter from the UN International Narcotics Control Board
decrying the NSW proposal.

The State Government has set up a working party within the Department
of Health and involving various stakeholders to look at the
possibility of a need for injecting rooms.

Poppy board incoming chairman Richard Bingham said injection rooms
could be a blow to the state's richest agricultural crop.

"The Poppy Advisory and Control Board and poppy industry would be
concerned if there was to be any perception that Australia was in
breach of its obligations under the convention," said Mr Bingham, who
takes over from Julian Green in the new year.

"There would be significant risks to the industry if Australia was
found to be in breach. We are aware the Attorney General has raised
this issue publicly in the past and the board is confident it will be
considered in formulating any government position," he said.

A spokesman for Health Minister Judy Jackson said Tasmania had no
position on the issue and was maintaining a "wait and see" policy.

He said the state would watch the progress of shooting galleries in
other states.