LABOR DRUGS CONFLICT

A LABOR Party candidate embarrassed the Bacon Government yesterday by
calling for the decriminalisation of all drugs on the day his candidature
was announced. Hobart lawyer and Labor Denison candidate James Crotty's
call is in direct conflict with Labor policy and comes just one week after
Premier Jim Bacon released the Government's drug strategy. Mr Crotty, in a
letter to The Mercury, called for the decriminalisation of all drugs in a
bid to take the profit out of trafficking.

Neither the Labor strategy nor ALP policy supports the decriminalisation of
marijuana, cocaine, heroin or other illegal drugs.

The Government would not comment yesterday on Mr Crotty's call, other than
to say its drugs policy, as outlined last week, was in line with the Howard
Government's "tough on drugs" approach.

Liberal health spokesman Matt Smith said Mr Crotty's statements marked a
policy shift and raised serious questions which would concern the Tasmanian
community.

Mr Crotty stood by his comments and said he was surprised by the "juvenile
rantings" of the Opposition. It was time to stop treating drug users as
criminals and treat them as patients, he said.

Mr Crotty, information technology industry executive David Bartlett, and
Communications Electrical Plumbing Union secretary Graeme Sturges join
Premier Bacon and Health Minister Judy Jackson as Labor candidates for
Denison, announced yesterday.

Meanwhile, former Labor MP Lara Giddings will contest the next state
election in the seat of Franklin.

Ms Giddings, who is employed in the Premier's Office, lost her Lyons seat
in 1998 after two years in Parliament.

With veteran Franklin Labor MHA Fran Bladel planning to quit the Lower
House in April and contest the seat of Huon in the Legislative Council, Ms
Giddings is favourite to pick up the Labor seat.

Deputy Premier Paul Lennon and Education Minister Paula Wriedt will stand,
along with Clarence City alderman Doug Doust and public servant and former
ALP secretary Carol Brown.

A sixth candidate is expected to be endorsed in May after Mrs Bladel quits
the House of Assembly.

Mrs Bladel's resignation will trigger a recount. Three 1998 Labor
candidates _ Neville Oliver, Trevor Cordwell and Ken Langston _ are able to
contest the recount.

With a state election expected to be held between August and November,
whoever wins the recount may only have four months in Parliament.