COSTA COPS HOT RECEPTION IN HIS FIRST QUESTION TIME

POLICE Minister Michael Costa faced a tough first day in Parliament
yesterday when he was forced to answer questions on his stance on the
decriminalisation of cannabis.

The State Opposition claimed that in 1999 when he was Labor Council chief,
Mr Costa claimed the state government had been "too cautious" in its
approach to drug law reform.

Mr Costa rejected this, saying the Drug Summit had resulted in reform, in
particular the cannabis cautioning program for those caught with small
amounts of the drug.

"I'm completely happy with the current regime," Mr Costa said.

Installed as Police Minister last week, he and Education Minister John
Watkins faced their first Question Time in Parliament yesterday.

In Upper House Question Time, Mr Costa received 11 questions.

In contrast, Mr Watkins had to answer two questions in the Lower House.

Meanwhile, NSW police will be able to use sniffer dogs for random drug
searches at pubs, dance parties and on public transport under laws to go
before State Parliament next week.

The move follows a court ruling where a Sydney magistrate declared the use
of the dogs in a random search a breach of civil liberties.

While the Government was appealing against the decision, Premier Bob Carr
said police could not risk having the use of dogs ruled invalid.

However, the laws would restrict the use of the dogs to designated areas.