BID FOR ZERO TOLERANCE IN SCHOOLS DOOMED

The push by the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, for a policy of zero
tolerance towards drug users in schools appears doomed, with most
state and territory leaders expected to oppose the idea at today's
Premiers' Conference.

But Mr Howard has headed off Victoria's proposal for a heroin trial,
despite the support of several states and territories for the initiative.

Drugs program funding will be a key issue at today's meeting, with
state and territory leaders, including the Victorian Premier, Mr Jeff
Kennett, calling for a substantial injection of Commonwealth funds -
well over $100million.

A discussion paper outlining the Federal Government's proposed
strategy was circulated among the premiers and chief ministers
yesterday. It covered such areas as access to drug treatments, the
zero-tolerance policy, enforcement strategies and the diversion of
convicted drug users into rehabilitation programs rather than prisons.

In an address yesterday, Mr Kennett said the Commonwealth would need
to contribute far more than $100million to tackle the drug issue,
adding that ``$100million is just a drop in the bucket''.

The Prime Minister yesterday refused to detail how much extra money
the Commonwealth would commit to the anti-drug push, but a spokeswoman
said it probably would exceed $100million.

The Federal Government has already committed $290million under its
Tough on Drugs strategy, and Mr Howard said that ``significant
additional resources and some new approaches'' would be announced today.

Mr Howard seems to have won little support for his policy of zero
tolerance towards the use of illicit drugs in schools.

Mr Kennett condemned the idea as ``unworkable'' and ``appalling'' and
said he did not think it was ``right that children who are users
should be expelled from school and denied education''. It is believed
that most state and territory leaders rejected the idea, not only
because it is the states that pay for schools and police, but because
of a belief that students who use illicit drugs deserve help, not
retribution.

Another proposal raised by the Commonwealth was the compulsory
referral of drug offenders to rehabilitation programs.

Although Victoria has a trial ``diversion'' program in place, it is
believed that the Victorian delegation has concerns about compulsion
in the Federal Government's proposal, preferring the idea of referral.