KENNETT SCOFFS AT PM'S LINE ON DRUGS

THE gulf between John Howard and Jeff Kennett on drugs widened
yesterday, when the Victorian Premier scoffed at the "zero-tolerance"
crime policy supported by the Prime Minister.

Mr Kennett said a more "sophisticated" approach than zero-tolerance
policing was needed to combat the drug problem and called on
governments to "experiment" with anti-drug measures.

Mr Kennett also attacked federal Health Minister Michael Wooldridge,
who has claimed that Victoria's support for heroin trials was a recent
development.

The Premier said Dr Wooldridge was suffering from selective amnesia
and that Victoria had supported the trial for 18 months.

Last night, NSW's most senior prosecutor urged regulation of the
illegal heroin industry, including taxing and licensing importers,
producers and suppliers of the drug.

Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery QC said regulation
needed to be considered as current strategies were failing.

"These are suggestions I make for discussion," Mr Cowdery
said.

"There are no easy, comprehensive solutions presently known - but it's
time to start looking for programs that will work. We need leaders who
will do that," he said.

"I raise for consideration, not prohibition, but regulation."

NSW Premier Bob Carr said Mr Cowdery's proposal was "quite
disastrous".

In recent days, Mr Kennett and Mr Howard have differed on key drug
issues, with Mr Kennett supporting a radical approach and Mr Howard
backing more conservative options.

Mr Howard again yesterday ruled out the heroin trial being advocated
by Mr Kennett.

On Friday, Mr Howard will meet FBI director Louis Freeh to discuss the
drugs issue, including the controversial zero-tolerance policing
approach that has been credited with a crime reduction in several US
cities, including New York.

Under zero tolerance, police crack down on the most minor crimes in
the belief that, by attacking a criminal culture, serious crimes will
also be reduced. Mr Kennett, who studied the zero-tolerance approach
while on a trip to New York last year, said yesterday that the policy
did not work.

"Zero tolerance is about moving the problem from one area to another.
We have got to do something substantially more sophisticated than
that," he said. "And we must be prepared to experiment, within the
grounds of decency."

Mr Kennett has been pushing for a meeting of premiers next week.
Speaking on Sydney radio yesterday, Mr Howard said he was wary of a
drug summit because it could lead to grandstanding.

Mr Howard also criticised heroin trials, saying there was no evidence
they worked.

"The British abandoned this approach and I will be very interested to
hear from the director of the FBI when I see him in Canberra on Friday
as to how the Americans have got on," he said. "I understand they are
not attracted to that kind of approach."