ALP FENCE SITS ON HEROIN TRIALS

FEDERAL Labor has distanced itself from the introduction of heroin trials
but expressed possible support for experiments such as safe injecting rooms
or specialist antidotes.

A party discussion paper, released yesterday to pre-empt the premiers'
meeting on Friday where drugs will be a central issue, comes as South
Australian Premier John Olsen repeated his support for considering a heroin
trial.

But Mr Olsen insisted the Commonwealth must split its drug campaign funds
to allow the States to develop education, health and enforcement programs.

"The Prime Minister wants to tackle the drug trade. If we're going to have
a drug offensive it's got to be a collaborative, co-operative effort," Mr
Olsen said.

In a cautious set of suggestions, the Labor paper says the party is not
"convinced" by the idea of a heroin trial but would not stand in the way of
States or Territories undertaking a "properly researched and controlled
trial". Labor also canvasses increased use of defence forces for border
security and security assessments.

"Pursuing harm reduction strategies is not a tacit acceptance of
drug-taking or an endorsement of drug culture as something that we must
tolerate," it says.

Labor supports the trial of alternative treatments such as Naltrexone, with
the possible inclusion of drugs on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

International drugs expert David Pennington, who yesterday briefed the
Queensland Cabinet on its drugs strategy, urged John Howard to consider all
alternatives to tackle the nation's heroin problem.

"I would ask him to be willing to look again at the evidence and not be
preoccupied necessarily with one's particular set of moral values," he
said.