DEAD SAILOR SPURS DRUG TEST PLAN

THE board of inquiry investigating the disappearance of a sailor from HMAS
Darwin last month is considering recommending drug and alcohol tests for
navy crews.

The board was told yesterday that one of six sailors reported to have drunk
heavily with Leading Seaman Cameron Gurr on the night he disappeared
overboard near Christmas Island had just returned from an alcohol
rehabilitation program.

Mary Ferguson, co-ordinator of the navy drug and alcohol program, told the
board in Sydney she would support random blood and urine tests for naval crews.

Peter Baston, counsel assisting the inquiry, told The Australian the board
was considering recommending random testing in its final report, due later
this month.

Lieutenant-Commander Ferguson said she would recommend that sailors
returning from alcohol rehabilitation should be kept onshore for at least
12 months. Rehabilitated sailors needed access to Alcoholics Anonymous and
one-on-one contact with counsellors, which was not possible when they were
at sea, she said.

But she stopped short of recommending that the sailors' ration of two cans
of beer a day be stopped and ships made dry.

The board has heard a party of up to seven sailors had drunk their beer
ration and then gone through a 750ml bottle of scotch and 1125ml bottle of
bourbon on the night of May 3.

Gurr, 20, who was not found despite a three-day sea and air search, had
excused himself to go to the toilet about 11.30pm but did not return. He
was missing the following morning.

An able seaman who said he was Gurr's best friend told the board yesterday
Gurr did not appear overly depressed about a break-up with his girlfriend.

The girlfriend had emailed Gurr a week before his disappearance saying
their relationship was over.

The hearing continues.