NO FREE HEROIN: MARTIN

Independent candidate for Keira David Martin yesterday moved quickly
to clarify his position on the administration of heroin to addicts.

At the weekend the Wollongong City Councillor, who is standing in the
upcoming state election, issued a statement calling for hospital or
outpatient administration of heroin to registered addicts as a way of
beating the present crime wave.

Cr Martin said he was concerned that reporting of his views had
conveyed an impression that he favoured dispensing free or cheap
heroin to addicts. "That is certainly not my position," Cr Martin said.

"I support a controlled program of administering heroin to addicts,
but that doesn't mean I support giving them free heroin.

"I am just looking for alternatives to the current situation, where
addicts are being driven by their addiction into crime to support a
habit costing on average $3000 a week."

"We have to break the link between the addiction and the crimes that
addicts commit."