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[quote]
Heroin trial must have federal support: Carnell

By Brendan Nicholson
The ACT's heroin trial would collapse if the Federal Government withdrew
support for it, Chief Minister Kate Carnell said yesterday.

Mrs Carnell's warning followed yesterday's comment by Prime Minister John
Howard that he and many members of his Government were "sceptical to the
point of hostility" about the trial.

Interviewed on Radio 2UE, broadcast in Canberra on 2CC, Mr Howard said he
shared the view of some church leaders that the trial would send the wrong
signal. Asked by host Alan Jones if he would allow his scepticism to
manifest itself into opposition to the trial, Mr Howard replied, "Alan, I
normally do on these sorts of issues."

But Mr Howard also said he knew many people in the community argued that
the trial should go ahead.

Mrs Carnell said she had not received any formal advice that the
Commonwealth's position had changed from that expressed at last month's
ministerial council meeting in Cairns.

"But, at the end of the day, if the Commonwealth withdraws its support, it
won't go ahead. That has always been our position."

When The Canberra Times contacted Mr Howard's office to clarify whether
the trial was on or off, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said it was
clear from transcripts of his radio interview and the media conference
that he was expressing his personsal opinion.

Mr Howard said on radio that the pilot stage of the trial had been
approved after the majority of ministers at the Cairns conference said
they would, at least, be open minded and give the trial a go.

On Tuesday, Mr Howard told a media conference he approached the whole
question of heroin trials with enormous ambivalence. "I remain unconvinced
that there is a social benefit," he said.

"It's hard to say that you shouldn't at least give a trial to something,
but you have to put me down as being a profound sceptic about the social
advantage of legalising things that cause a problem."

At the time, Mr Howard said his views on the trial were not inconsistent
with the Commonwealth allowing the trial to take place. "What has happened
has happened with the authority of the minister and the Government."

Before the ministers met in Cairns, it was widely believed that the heroin
trial was dead for lack of support. While Queensland, Western Australia
and the Northern Territory opposed it, the majority of governments
represented gave wary support to a modified plan as part of a much wider
package of measures.

It is understood that when the circumstances changed, Dr Wooldridge sought
advice from his Cabinet colleagues and the decision was made to support
the trial with the strict condition that federal money would be used only
for its administration and not to pay for the heroin.

Dr Wooldridge said at the time it would be very difficult to consider the
trial a magic cure and it might be totally ineffective. "It is quite
possible the other trials will be more effective," he said.
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