LEADERS TO FOCUS ON DRUGS

Labor called yesterday for stronger national leadership, and a broader and
better co-ordinated approach to address Australia's illegal drug problem
days before the country's political leaders meet to consider the issue.

At the same time, the Queensland Labor Government approved trials of new
heroin treatments while Victorian Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett said he would
press for Commonwealth approval needed to pursue a heroin trial in spite of
Prime Minister John Howard's opposition.

Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley released Labor's discussion paper on
illicit drug use, three days before state and territory leaders meet Mr
Howard at the premiers' conference where drugs will top the agenda.

The paper calls for a nationally co-ordinated drugs strategy, efforts to
reduce demand and supply, including making it easier to confiscate the
proceeds of criminal activities, helping drug addicts and their families,
and offering opportunity and hope to young people through jobs, education
and training.

"The national drugs strategy defined previously had its day, did reasonably
well at the time, but is now insubstantial and unfocused," Mr Beazley said.

Labor remains unconvinced by proposed heroin trials but is prepared to
monitor overseas trials and to support Australian trials if expert opinion
backs this.

Victoria and the ACT need Commonwealth permission to import heroin for their
trials agreed to at the premiers' drug summit several weeks ago.