CONSCIENCE VOTE AT DRUG SUMMIT

Labor MPs Are Likely To Be Given A Conscience Vote On All Issues At Next
Week's Drug Summit.

Premier Bob Carr said delegates would vote on a wide range of issues
including the use of safe injecting rooms or "shooting galleries" during the
May 17-21 meeting at NSW Parliament.

Mr Carr was forced to defend the invitation list after Director of Public
Prosecutions Nick Cowdery, a critic of the Government's drug policy, was not
among the 80 non-parliamentary participants.

A full Caucus meeting will decide today on whether Labor MPs will be given a
conscience vote, but Mr Carr said he "expected" the matter would be passed
without any problems.

Mr Carr said he hoped all MPs would be "free" to vote with their consciences
on issues rather than along traditional party lines.

"I think not to have a free vote means that the debate is transferred from
the summit on the floor of the Parliament into the party room, where it
takes place behind closed doors," Mr Carr said.

Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovksi said a joint party room meeting today
would decide on the Coalition stance but she did not want to "prejudge" the
outcome.

Traditionally MPs are freed from party voting constraints when voting on
"matters of conscience" such as abortion.

Members of the Upper House were last year granted a conscience vote by their
parties when Parliament was asked to consider the sacking of Supreme Court
Judge Vince Bruce.

Meanwhile, Mr Carr said there was "simply not enough room" to accommodate Mr
Cowdery.

Mr Carr conceded Mr Cowdery could have made a valuable contribution to the
summit but said his views "were already well known".

The Premier and Mr Cowdery have clashed on numerous occasions over the ALP's
law and order policies since the Government was first elected in 1995.

Mr Cowdery supports a heroin trial in NSW and the establishment of
accredited heroin injecting rooms in areas like Kings Cross and Cabramatta.

According to the summit's agenda released yesterday, there will be 15
official speakers including Police Commissioner Peter Ryan and Major Brian
Watters of the Salvation Army.

The 65 non-parliamentary delegates include common law Chief Judge James
Wood, entertainer Normie Rowe and Reverend Ray Richmond who is currently
operating a heroin injecting room in Kings Cross.

Another 42 non-parliamentary delegates including National Rugby League chief
Neil Whittaker will attend but will not have full voting rights.