PREMIER STICKS TO HIS GUNS ON HANGING

VICTORIAN Premier Steve Bracks has spoken out strongly against the
death penalty in a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister, four
months after the execution of Melbourne drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van.

Before the meeting, Mr Bracks made it clear that the State Government
would make no apologies for describing Singapore's decision to hang
Nguyen as a "barbaric" act.

In a closed meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
last night, Mr Bracks said Victoria still held the strong view that
clemency ought to have been granted to Nguyen, 24, who was hanged
after being caught trying to smuggle heroin..

"We still obviously and quite rightly have the view that it was
wrong to have the death penalty for Nguyen. There were other ways of
looking at clemency It's a strong view that's held -- and we'd like
that taken into consideration (by the Singapore Government) in the
future," Mr Bracks said before the meeting.

In a move that prompted widespread anger in Victoria and highlighted
divisions about the death penalty, Nguyen was hanged on December 2
last year, despite repeated calls to have the execution overturned.

Days before the hanging, Attorney-General Rob Hulls delivered a
letter from Mr Bracks asking that the sentence be overturned. Energy
Minister Theo Theophanous also lobbied his Singapore counterpart,
Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang, and used Singapore Power's
multi-billion-dollar investment in Victoria's energy sector as a
lever to appeal for clemency.

Mr Bracks, who met Prime Minister Lee, Trade Minister Lim and
Singapore Power officials yesterday, defended Mr Hulls' controversial
description of the Nguyen hanging as "barbaric".

"I think Rob Hulls was reflecting what our Government's position was,
and that is, we do not believe that the punishment was commensurate
with the crime," Mr Bracks said. "Notwithstanding that, I don't
believe it's had an impact on trade or investment I think there is
enough maturity on all sides to understand that we have this
different position."

In the country to meet political and business leaders, Mr Bracks flew
to Singapore at the weekend to join Victorian students touring World
War II memorials as part of the Government's "Spirit of Anzac Prize"
- -- an initiative encouraging young people to learn more about
Australia's war veterans.

While attending various functions and meetings, Mr Bracks also:

- - Told Singapore Airlines chief executive Chew Choon Seng that,
despite the Federal Government having denied an application by
Singapore Airlines to fly between Sydney and Los Angeles, there was
still scope for more direct flights from Melbourne. The issue was
also raised by the Prime Minister in their meeting.

- - Said Victoria could learn "great lessons" from Singapore's
transport system. "Singapore has introduced a successful transit
system which has integrated bus and rail services and resulted in low
car usage in the city," he said.

- - Talked up the value of the Singapore-Australia free trade agreement
as a key factor in increasing Victoria's trade with Singapore from
$1.5 billion in 2003-04 to $2 billion in 2004-05.

Mr Bracks will visit Sri Lanka today and tsunami-ravaged regions tomorrow.