LORD MAYOR ATTACKED ON DRUG PLAN

The Premier has challenged the Lord Mayor, Cr Ivan Deveson, to use the
``tens of millions'' earned by the City of Melbourne from the sale of
electricity assets to fight the drug problem.

The Premier has challenged the Lord Mayor, Cr Ivan Deveson, to use the
``tens of millions'' earned by the City of Melbourne from the sale of
electricity assets to fight the drug problem.

Mr Jeff Kennett said yesterday that, if the Lord Mayor was so concerned, the
council had ``plenty of cash'' to do something about the city heroin trade.

Mr Kennett's attack has further heightened tensions between himself and Cr
Deveson.

The two have previously been at odds over other social and civic issues,
particularly the impact of gambling.

Asked about claims that Melbourne risked serious infiltration by drug
barons, Mr Kennett said Cr Deveson should pass on evidence to the State
Government and the police.

"I think (the claim) is incorrect,'' he said. ``I don't know what he bases
it on. If he has got any evidence I would be happy to see it and I think the
police would be happy to see it.''

Cr Deveson sparked debate at the weekend when he called for trials of
legalised heroin to be conducted in the city.

Yesterday, Mr Kennett said Cr Deveson was entitled to his views. ``(But) if
he wants to spend more money trying to assist he has got plenty of cash
there to do so,'' he said.

"He has got tens of millions from the privatisation of their electricity
sales but to turn Melbourne into the only city in which this experiment
would take place would attract literally thousands of people to the city.''

Cr Deveson was unavailable for comment last night. But a spokesman,
responding to Mr Kennett's comments, said the council had already devoted
significant resources to fighting the drug trade.

"The Lord Mayor believes that the community must confront the challenge
posed by illegal drugs - not just in Melbourne but communities across the
state and the country - if the death toll from illegal drug use is to be
reduced,'' he said.

Cr Deveson's spokesman said he did not advocate Melbourne going it alone on
a heroin trial but supported it as part of a national program. He said the
Lord Mayor had a good grasp of the issues and understood the difficulties
associated with such a complex social problem.

In an interview with The Sunday Age, Cr Deveson called for a heroin trial
similar to the one proposed by the Australian Capital Territory last year.
The ACT trial was blocked by Federal Parliament.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett