PM CALLS FOR HALT TO HEROIN TRIALS

The Howard Government has seized on a scathing report from an international
drug agency to call for a halt to trials of heroin injecting rooms.

The Vienna-based UN International Narcotics Control Board said the trials
could tarnish Australia's image as host of the Olympics and breach this
country's international treaty obligations.

Prime Minister John Howard wrote last night to the ACT, NSW and Victorian
Governments asking them to hold off on their proposed trials.

The harsh criticism from the board came after a secret attempt by the Carr
Government to gain endorsement for a supervised injecting room. However,
the unilateral approach - a breach of diplomatic protocol - has blown up in
the face of the NSW Government.

NSW Special Minister of State John Della Bosca wrote to the board, saying
his government was proudly tough on drugs but asked for an opinion on the
18-month trial of a medically supervised injecting room.

He asked for a reply to be sent directly to the Carr Government but the
board president, Antonio Martins, instead followed protocol and replied to
Australia's ambassador to the United Nations.

In his highly critical letter, Mr Martins said the board was concerned at
the message sent to the community by allowing injecting rooms. ' As the
host of the year 2000 summer Olympics, Australia should instead be
promoting healthy lifestyles, free from any substance abuse,' he said.

' Serious legal problems exist with such injection rooms as well.'

The trial could also be in contravention of the international conventions
calling for the promotion of high standards of health and making possession
of drugs a criminal offence.

' By permitting injection rooms, the government could be considered to be
facilitating in the commission of possession and use crimes, as well as
other criminal offences including drug trafficking,' the letter says.

Mr Howard, who strongly opposes heroin trials or injecting rooms, seized on
the international criticism to back his case.

In his letters to ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell, NSW Premier Bob Carr and
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, the Prime Minister repeated his
reservations about the trials planned by the three governments.

' I have thus far taken the public position that the health and other
aspects of this matter are essentially issues for state and territory
governments,' his letter says.

' However I cannot ignore assertions that what is proposed could be in
breach of Australia's international obligations.

' In light of the board's views, I ask that you do not proceed with your
proposal until the Commonwealth, in discussion with States and Territories,
has had an opportunity to consider all of the implications involved. It
would be useful if our officials could confer as soon as possible.'

The ACT Legislative Assembly passed laws last week approving the two-year
trial of a medically supervised heroin injecting room.

Mrs Carnell's spokesman said last night preparatory work for the trial
would proceed but the start up was not planned until March or April.

The ACT was keen to take a cooperative approach and believed the board's
letter could lead to worthwhile consultation on the issue, he said. The ACT
still had to examine various issues, including the site, staffing and
protocols regarding the Australian Federal Police.

Responding to the board's criticism, the spokesman said, ' We are trying to
promote health lifestyles and we are trying to save lives.'

Mrs Carnell's spokesman also said media attention always focused on
injecting room trials which were only one part of a multi-faceted approach
to the drugs scourge.

Ian Mathews, who co-wrote Drugs policy - Fact, Fiction and the Future,
acknowledged the legalistic approach of the board.

' Injecting rooms, no matter how valuable I think they are - and I agree
with their establishment - are probably not strictly a medical research
option as covered by the conventions,' he said in Canberra last night.