FUNDING FEAR VOICED OVER DRUG REFORM

REHABILITATION experts yesterday expressed concern over the level of
Federal Government funding for a nationwide diversionary programme directed
at people caught with drugs.

Queensland Drug and Alcohol Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred said he
doubted the $110million in funding, over the next four years, would be
enough to cover the treatment of drug users under the diversionary programme.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday formally announced details of radical
nationwide reforms that would waive criminal convictions for people caught
with small quantities of hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, if they
agreed to rehabilitation.

Under the plan, agreed to all states and territories, offenders will be
required to sign contracts requiring them to keep to the rehabilitation
programme or go back to court.

While Mr Howard yesterday conceded the plan would not solve Australia's
drug problem, he said it would provide a pathway for first-time and young
offenders out of the criminal system and off drugs.

"This is another new approach, I'm not saying this will solve the problem,"
he said.

"In this way for the first time there will be a nationwide approach whereby
minor drug offenders can have an option of treatment and education rather
than getting caught up in the criminal justice system."

A spokesman for Premier Peter Beattie said the State Government was close
to finalising details of the plan's implementation in Queensland, including
the quantity limits that would make people eligible for rehabilitation.

But the state Opposition expressed concern over the Howard diversionary
programme, saying it would prefer the establishment of a drug court and
that offenders should have convictions recorded against them.

Opposition justice spokesman Lawrence Springborg also agreed with civil
libertarians' concerns that, under the plan, offenders would be referred to
the rehabilitation programmes by the arresting police officer.

"I would prefer that to be taken away from the police because I think it is
not without its problems," he said.

Mr Aldred said he doubted the $110million in federal funding for treatment
places, spread across Australia over four years, would be enough to cover
the number of offenders who would enter the diversionary programme.

He said the Government also would have a "major problem" for offenders,
caught in regional Queensland.

"We take people from all over the state because there is no treatment or
rehabilitation centres for them, apart from one facility in Cairns, outside
of south-east Queensland," he said.

Mr Aldred said he was concerned as to what was expected to be achieved by
the programme.