STAY OUT OF OUR ISSUE

AT A time when some claim that good investigative journalism is a lost art,
I write to compliment The West Australian for its report by Norm Aisbett
(The billionaire, drugs and us, Weekend Extra, 30/11). It examined the push
to legalise illicit drugs of abuse and, in particular, the role of
well-financed US lobby groups with their tame journalists and PR
operatives. Aisbett exposes the agenda of people like Robert Sharpe, of the
Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, who aim to engineer change in "Australia
or some other English-speaking country, to help us pressure our (US)
legislators".

It is outrageous that US lobby groups should be seeking to change our
values to suit themselves. What are the lengths to which this campaign will
go to achieve its purpose? How much money has been spent on pushing the
odious line of the reformers? How many politicians are behind the Gallop
Government's push to normalise cannabis use in WA, regardless of the
overwhelming opposition to such a move? I am sure readers of The West
Australian will be interested to learn more about this insidious campaign.

As to the proof of Aisbett's report, one need look no further than the
letters pages on Tuesday. Deirdre Lyra, of the Australian Family
Association, gives voice to the concerns of parents everywhere, while three
letters from foreign lobbyists push the legalisation agenda. Get out of our
backyard, Mr Sharpe of Washington, PR director Stephen Heath of Florida and
Jeff Moore of Virginia. We prefer to listen to West Australians.

SIMON O'BRIEN, MLC, Liberal spokesman for drug abuse strategy.