NT GIVES SUPPORT TO ACT HEROIN TRIAL

Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin says she supports the ACT
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope's call for support for a prescription heroin trial.

Mr Stanhope wants the issue to be considered at Friday's Council of
Australian Governments meeting in Canberra.

The Prime Minister, who stopped a proposed trial in Canberra, says he does
not support the idea because it sends the wrong message.

Ms Martin says while she supports such a trial, it would not be appropriate
in the Northern Territory at this stage.

Meanwhile, the Australian Family Drug Support group says public opinion is
moving towards support for a heroin prescription trial.

Tony Trimingham from Family Drug Support, says public opinion will shift if
there are continuing demands for a greater range of treatment for heroin users.

"The talkback radio hosts can be influenced too - because public opinion is
swinging more behind doing these more radical things - that will influence
the talkback radio hosts," he said.

"I don't think that they're close minded at all. I think they tend to
reflect what people are telling them and I tend to think there is a lot of
hope."