SMOKING DRUG TAX

SMOKERS and drinkers should be hit with new taxes to fund the war against
narcotics, according to the Prime Minister's chief adviser on drugs.

The Salvation Army's Maj. Brian Watters said a dramatic increase in welfare
spending was needed to stop further deaths.

He said federal and state governments needed to consider higher taxes to pay
for badly needed services.

Maj. Watters favored levies on alcohol and tobacco, already key sources of
state income, as a means to fight the battle.

"Surely there's some way of (tapping) into some sort of flow of funds at a
state and federal level," he said.

"There is going to need to be a solid commitment of federal and state
funding to help set up the right services."

Maj. Watters reiterated his opposition to heroin trials and warned alcohol
remained the biggest threat. "If I had the sort of money that would be
invested in a heroin trial I could do a lot of things," he said.

Maj. Watters said he heard constantly how the needy were being turned away
from welfare services, which could not cope with demands.

He also played down complaints about his anti-heroin trial stance, saying it
was "not exactly right" to claim some of his most senior colleagues opposed
his position.

The City of Melbourne will conduct a community forum and expo on the drug
problem at the Melbourne Town Hall, starting at 6.30pm tomorrow.