STATE LOSES OUT IN DRUG FUNDING

VICTORIA'S share of federal anti-drugs grants announced yesterday was
only half that of New South Wales.

NSW - which has a state election in just over a week - was allocated
$5.4million from the $20million funding pool available to help treat
addicts.

Despite its alarming increase in heroin-related deaths, Victoria
scored only $2.7 million.

On most national funding allocations for health, Victoria receives
about 25 per cent.

Yesterday's total grant amounted to 13.5 per cent.

Although the heroin problem is centred on Victoria and NSW, Queensland
received a total of $3.8 million and Western Australia received $2.1
million.

The Federal Government last night conceded an apparent "imbalance" in
the allocation of funding, which was directed to more than 50
community groups providing counselling and rehabilitation nationwide.

However, a spokesman for Health Minister Michael Wooldridge said an
extra $2.2 million would be provided for Victoria later.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday unveiled $20 million worth of
grants for the rehabilitation and treatment stage of his $290 million
Tough on Drugs strategy.

Mr Howard used his speech to intensify political pressure on state and
territory leaders to back him in a unified national approach to the
war against drugs.

The PM will reveal new ideas to combat the drugs crisis at the April 9
Premiers' Conference in Canberra.

"I do regard this as a national issue - I do believe it carries
national responsibilities," Mr Howard said.

"It can only be done effectively if we, all of us, work
together.

"I would hope to the maximum degree possible that the effort at a
government level to deal with the problem should be on a bipartisan
basis."

Mr Howard said few other issues had dominated the national agenda as
the drugs crisis had.

Victorian grants ranged from $197,000 for the Buoyancy Foundation in
Richmond to help drug-affected women to $508,956 for the Ngwala
Willumbong Co-operative in Windsor to help indigenous addicts.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he was disappointed with the small
amount of funding released yesterday.

He said the government should have announced subsidies for the
controversial heroin detoxification drug naltrexone.

However, Dr Wooldridge said subsidies were not possible because the
drug's manufacturer had yet to apply for naltrexone's listing on the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Since funding grants to community groups started last year, Victoria
has received a total of $10.3million to NSW's $15.8million.

Premier Jeff Kennett yesterday said the $20million grants were
"obviously good" and ventured no complaints about Victoria's deal.

"We are happy with the allocation that has been made and it
complements the money that the State Government has committed through
Turn the Tide," he said.

Yesterday's developments took place as the death toll from heroin
overdoses in Victoria rose to 80 for the year, exceeding the road toll
of 79.