IS ECONOMIC LOSS A FACTOR IN OPPOSING DRUG TRIAL?

LAST Thursday's debate on the 7.30 Report over a heroin trial may not
have changed the mind of federal Minister for Health Michael
Wooldridge about introducing a trial, but he certainly revealed a
little-spoken-of consideration in this debate.

When asked why he continued to refuse consideration of a trial, he
listed various factors, finishing very quickly with that minor
consideration of the possible loss of an $80-million-per-year income
for Tasmania. If the Federal Government is concerned about the
possible closure of Tasmania's legalised opiate-growing industry by
the US if Australia adopts a heroin trial, then why doesn't it come
clean about it? Several medical experts, social workers and some
politicians, most notably Jeff Kennett, are open-minded enough to
conduct a trial. The obstinacy displayed by other politicians over
adopting a trial is hard to understand when everything points to it as
a possible alternative. If it is due to factors of a political or
economic nature which are above our Government, then spell them out.
Please allow this debate to be totally informed.

PAUL DE WOLFE
Isabella Plains