NATS DEFY COURT ON HEROIN

WESTERN Australia could be the first State to sanction the free supply of
heroin to addicts after the State conference of the National Party
yesterday supported the introduction of warnings for first-time marijuana
users and controlled heroin trials.

While the radical approach to counter the illicit heroin trade and
drug-related crime will face stiff opposition from conservative Liberal
ministers, including Premier Richard Court, Deputy Premier and State
National Party leader Hendy Cowan pledged to advance the heroin scheme.

The State already has in place methadone replacement programs but advocates
of the heroin trial told the party conference in the southern wheatbelt
town of Hyden, 350km south-east of Perth, that these programs, combined
with tougher criminal sanctions, had failed to stem the incidence of
drug-related break-ins and assaults that contribute to Perth's high crime
rate.

National backbencher Max Trenordan said his resolve to support the measure
was hardened eight weeks ago, when a close friend died from a heroin overdose.

"To not support this motion was not an option," Mr Trenordan said. "This
argument that was raised here today, and that I constantly hear raised in
the community about how you have to get people off heroin and put them on
programs, is not realistic.

"It is not like many other issues. Once some people are involved in heroin,
they don't have the option of retreating from it. These are our children we
are talking about, and these decent children, once they are hooked, are the
ones doing the violent crimes and breaking and entering that has been
causing the chaos and mayhem."

Mr Court has previously ruled out support for any heroin trial or weakening
of marijuana sanctions, and he stands by the Government's anti-drugs
strategy, which is based largely on education programs and tough criminal
sanctions.

West Australian police, under Commissioner Bob Falconer, have already come
out publicly in support of drug law reform.

The resolution, sponsored by members of the National Party's socially
progressive Metropolitan branch, was passed narrowly and without the
support of any sitting MPs other than Mr Trenordan.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan