PUSHING THE WRONG BARROW

THAT Sydney Lard Mayor Frank Sartor should even consider supplying heroin
to addicts shows he has seriously misplaced priorities.

Mr Sartor has chosen to support an advisory committee set up by the Council
of Capital City Lord Mayors which advocates supplying heroin on
prescription under medically controlled conditions.

The proliferation of hard drugs is a serious problem for the community
which must be addressed.

But Mr Sartor is not the man to do it and he is stepping well beyond the
brief of a lord mayor by toying with such an irresponsible proposal.

This is not the province of city councils and is not what ratepayers expect
when they elect their local representatives.

Mr Sartor is backing a proposal that would assist those who want to ease
controls on illegal drugs through the back door after Prime Minister John
Howard rejected a prescription heroin trial in the ACT last year.

Mr Howard refused to introduce a law that would allow the Federal
Government to import an illegal substance, namely heroin. Mr Howard
correctly judged that sanctioning the use of strong drugs would send the
wrong message to the community.

Nothing has changed. No trial can proceed without the approval of the State
and Federal Governments - and the stance on the issue at both Governments
is unlikely to waiver.

For Mr Sartor it is an unnecessary diversion. As Lord Mayor and a member of
the SOCOG board he should concentrate on readying Sydney for the 2000
Olympics, a job that is far from complete.

To give weight to this objectionable proposal does Mr Sartor no credit.

The heroin trade is an insidious cancer within our society that destroys
the lives of users and their families. It is unacceptable for any
government to become involved in its importation or distribution.

There is a mayoral election next September. Mr Sartor would be well advised
to stick to local government and leave the heroin problem to those who
understand the issues.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski