NO SENSE IN ALP'S STANCE ON HEROIN

IT IS a sorry state of affairs that the Australian Labor Party's ACT
branch can vote to support, even conditionally, foisting a heroin
injecting room and a heroin-distribution "trial'' on the citizens of
Canberra ("Branch nod to injecting room plan", CT, 27 June, p.3).

The logic behind this stance is baffling on two grounds:

Firstly, this is essentially a moral issue on which people, including
politicians, should be free to make up their own minds. There is
surely no place here for party dogma.

Secondly, if political opportunism is the name of the game, what on
earth is the ALP doing supporting the Carnell-Moore axis on such an
issue?

Are not ALP members aware that the most recent local television poll,
taken earlier this month (Prime TV), showed 70 per cent against both
injecting rooms and the heroin trial?

PETER TRICKETT
Convener, People for a Drug-Free Society, Fraser