PROSECUTORS COMBINE ON DRUG REFORM

TWO top prosecutors have joined South Australia's Director of Public
Prosecutions, Mr Paul Rofe, to try to liberalise heroin and marijuana
laws.

Mr Rofe, the New South Wales DPP, Mr Nick Cowdery, and the Australian
Capital Territory's DPP, Mr Richard Refshauge, called yesterday for
heroin to be given free to addicts in safe injecting rooms to reduce
crime and ease overloaded courts.

Their united push follows Mr Rofe's controversial statement last week
that he had no objection to marijuana being sold from the "corner
deli" in the fight against illicit drugs.

Mr Rofe told an Adelaide drug conference that laws had failed to curb
drug problems.

He said more radical solutions, including government-controlled supply
of marijuana and heroin, should be considered.

Yesterday, in a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, Mr Howard's,
zero-tolerance-to-drugs policy, the three DPPs called for urgent
liberalisation of drug laws.

In a joint statement, they said governments should concentrate on
curbing the health and social effects of drugs, rather than just
putting users through the courts.

The proposed changes would include free heroin for prisoners, a heroin
trial for registered addicts and ultimately safe injecting rooms.

They also called on State and Territory governments to treat marijuana
in the same way as tobacco, to expand needle exchanges and to improve
educational programs to keep children off drugs.

The statement stressed drug dealers would receive no leniency under
their recommendations.

"The criminal dealing in prohibited drugs would continue to be policed
rigorously; the resources available to do it would be increased and
the incidence of drug-related offences against private property would
substantially decline," the DPPs said.

They said if the heroin trial for registered addicts were successful,
the drug should be freely available.

"The availability of free heroin on prescription to registered addicts
in safe circumstances would significantly reduce the illicit market
and consequently the large profits, the motive for the commission of
drug-related property crime," they said.

"It would also substantially reduce morbidity and mortality from
intravenous drug use."

The statement comes as Sydney's Wayside Chapel intends defying
authority again today by allowing its premises to be used as a safe
injecting house.

Wayside staff said last night they expected police to visit their
Tolerance Room between 2pm and 4pm when the shooting gallery would be
open for business.