HEROIN TRIAL 'WRONG' FOR OLYMPICS

A WORLD narcotics body has condemned NSW's trial of a heroin injecting
room in a policy declaration the State Government wanted kept
confidential.

The 18-month trial would send the "wrong message" about Australia
during the Olympics, according to the UN International Narcotics
Control Board.

The injecting room could also breach our treaty obligations limiting
government responses to heroin abuse.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday wrote to Premier Bob Carr
demanding the Sydney trial be halted.

Mr Howard said he could not ignore "assertions that what is proposed
could be in breach of Australia's international obligations".

He called for more talks among State and territory leaders,
particularly with NSW, Victoria and the ACT where trials are scheduled.

"Incidentally, I am also concerned that your Government did not
consult the Commonwealth Government before making an approach to the
board," wrote Mr Howard.

The Narcotic Control Board's policy statement might not have been
known in Canberra had the board not followed stiff protocol.

On October 15, NSW Special Minister of State John Della Bosca wrote to
the Vienna-based body asking for its view on injecting rooms, after
learning "a private citizen" had already asked for advice.

"I would respectfully ask that any further concerns which may be
entertained by the board concerning this Government's policies be
referred as a matter of courtesy in the first instance to Premier Carr
or myself," wrote Mr Della Bosca.

However, the board followed protocol by responding on November 17
through Australia's ambassador extraordinary to the United Nations in
Vienna.

It asked that copies be sent not just to Mr Della Bosca but the
Federal Department of Health and Services and State Upper House member
Fred Nile, who had made inquiries on September 29.

The reply closely matched Mr Howard's strongly-held objections to
injecting rooms.

And it warned the State Government could be considered to be involved
in "criminal offences including drug trafficking".

"Last, but not least, the board is concerned at the message that would
be sent by the countenancing of these injection facilities by public
authorities," wrote board president Antonio Martins.

"As I am sure you are aware, drug issues receive wide publicity in the
Australian media and the existence of legally countenanced injection
rooms would send the wrong message that Australia is a place where
illicit substances can be abused with impunity.

"As the host of the year 2000 summer Olympics, Australia should
instead be promoting healthy lifestyles, free from any substance abuse."

Mr Della Bosca said the Prime Minister's intervention was "unwelcome
and ill-informed" and Mr Howard had known about the 18-month trial for
more than six months.