REBEL MPS LEARN CAUTIONARY TALE AS BID TO DILUTE DRUG LAWS FAILS

PREMIER Jeff Kennett yesterday quashed a move by rebel Liberal MPs to
water down his liberalised drug laws.

At a meeting of all government MPs yesterday, conservative MP David
Perrin proposed a motion that would have effectively overturned the
laws Mr Kennett announced in July.

Under Mr Kennett's proposals, a statewide caution scheme will apply to
first time offenders caught with less than 50 grams of cannabis.

The caution scheme will also be trialled with heroin users and may
eventually be extended statewide.

Mr Kennett did not consult his MPs before announcing the plan,
angering conservative MPs who had blocked a 1996 proposal by Mr
Kennett to decriminalise marijuana. On that occasion, Mr Kennett
promised MPs he would consult them before changing drug laws in the
future.

Last month, a plan to force a special partyroom meeting to discuss the
drug issue was abandoned by rebel MPs, but Mr Perrin raised the issue
yesterday.

Under Mr Perrin's proposal, the amount of cannabis attracting a
caution would have been reduced to two grams, effectively eliminating
the caution scheme.

Mr Perrin's move was seconded by Inga Peulich, MP for Bentleigh. After
Mr Perrin spoke in favour of the reduction, the proposal was debated.
However, only one other MP supported it, and several spoke against it,
including Health Minister Rob Knowles.

Mr Kennett then offered Mr Perrin a chance to withdraw the motion
before it was put to a vote.

Mr Perrin withdrew the motion and Mr Kennett said he was happy for the
MPs to discuss the issue again in the future.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry