CARR'S SNUB OF COWDERY WAS UNPROFESSIONAL

Premier Bob Carr's decision not to invite the Director of Public
Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, QC, to the NSW Drug Summit was
unprofessional and ill-advised.

Regardless of the difference of opinion between the two men in the drug
debate, Nicholas Cowdery is the leader of this State's criminal prosecution
service. He should have been invited on that fact alone. The DPP deals with
people in the courts who commit "heroin-based crime" on a daily basis.

Mr Cowdery's snub by Mr Carr is similar to organising a summit on air
safety and not inviting James Strong from Qantas.

The professionalism rhetoric Mr Carr gave after his party's recent election
victory was just that. All talk. At a time when the community's confidence
in public institutions is low, Mr Carr has missed an opportunity.

For the sake of the community, Mr Carr needs to keep his professionalism
promise. Otherwise, a stint in the private sector to learn how to be
professional may be the answer.

Andrew Nicholls, Waverton.