KENNETT REJECTS HEROIN TRIAL CALL

The State Government would not support a heroin trial launched only in
Melbourne, the Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, said yesterday.

Responding to suggestions by the Lord Mayor, Cr Ivan Deveson, that the state
and federal governments move urgently to tackle the city's illicit drug
trade, the Premier said only a national approach would receive his endorsement.

Cr Deveson had advocated the establishment of safe injection centres for
heroin users. "We shouldn't just sit back and allow Canberra to lead the way
as they tried to a year ago," he said.

In the first of a special series of Age reports titled Reclaiming Our City,
published in The Sunday Age, Cr Deveson called for more state government
resources for a public-awareness campaign about drugs. Yesterday he
suggested a series of shock TV advertisements, similar to those used by the
Transport Accident Commission, to draw attention to the perils of drug abuse.

Mr Kennett said a trial of legal heroin use in Melbourne could have the
adverse effect of attracting addicts from other states.

The Salvation Army yesterday criticised the Lord Mayor's proposals for
heroin trials, saying they encouraged drug use and sent the wrong message to
potential drug users.

Cr Deveson agreed that the council did not have the power to set up
injection rooms, but he said "we're reaching a point where more young people
between 15 and 25 are dying of drug overdoses than road death. We haven't
reached that point, but we will very soon if we don't consider an alternative".

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett