SENATORS 'AT WAR' OVER DRUG DRAMA

CANBERRA: THE "drug war" between two prominent South Australian
senators escalated yesterday, causing the Australian Democrats and the
Opposition to attack the Justice Minister, Senator Vanstone.

The attacks came after Senator Vanstone again pursued Democrats
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja on her attitude towards recreational
drug use.

In parliament yesterday, Senator Vanstone claimed the Democrats "only
want education and only want harm minimisation and say we are putting
too much money into law enforcement". "This Government is happy to be
tough on drugs. If the Democrats want to go soft on drugs, that is
entirely up to them," she said.

Senator Stott Despoja, who does not "do illegal drugs", said the
attack on her was "one of the tackiest displays of point-scoring I
have ever seen in this place".

"I ... pointed out at that conference (International Conference on
Drugs and Young People) that the two single biggest drug problems
facing young Australians are alcohol and tobacco," she said.

"Yet a Justice Minister can go on Burke's Backyard and parade her
cellar full of alcohol and that is considered okay and good publicity."

On Tuesday, Senator Vanstone virtually accused Senator Stott Despoja
of condoning illegal drug use. Senator Vanstone had seized on reported
comments Senator Stott Despoja made at the November 22 conference and
challenged her to "fess up" on her views on recreational drug use.

Senator Stott Despoja had told the conference the Government's "Tough
on Drugs" strategy was too dependent on law enforcement. She urged
greater understanding because some people enjoyed their recreational
use.

The clash between the pair is not the first. Last year, Senator
Vanstone played up tensions between Senator Stott Despoja and the then
Democrats leader, Cheryl Kernot.

She quoted Ms Kernot as having said there was "only room for one
blonde in the Democrats".

Senator Stott Despoja had replied Senator Vanstone should not ridicule
opponents on the basis of appearance. Senator Vanstone had said she
had nothing against blondes and that Senator Stott Despoja clearly
didn't either. "Otherwise, why would she dye her hair that color?"
Senator Vanstone said.

An angry Democrats Leader, Senator Meg Lees, said Senator Vanatone's
latest comments shoved "complete lack of understanding of what was
needed to seriously tackle this problem".

Labor senators also attacked Senator Vanstone, with Senator John
Faulkner calling her "a serial misleader of the Senate".

Checked-by: Patrick Henry