HEROIN TRIAL ON AGENDA

A NATIONAL heroin trial would be on the agenda if Labor won the
federal election.

The ACT's chief minister-elect, Labor leader Jon Stanhope, said he
would start the ball rolling on the controversial issue.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley yesterday said ``we wouldn't stand in
the way of Mr Stanhope or anyone else'' on a heroin trial. He said
Labor would take a multi-pronged approach to fighting drugs:
financially destroying criminals, catching drugs entering the
country, stopping drug deaths and community safety.

Prime Minister John Howard firmly opposes any heroin trial and has
boosted funds to law enforcement to fight drugs. Mr Howard vowed
yesterday he would never allow a heroin trial to proceed. ``I will
stand in the way of heroin trials to the extent that I
constitutionally can anywhere in the country,'' he said.

Mr Stanhope said he would build the country's second heroin injecting
room as soon as next year, if all went well with the NSW trial.

``One of the first things I will do (if Labor wins) is approach the
Federal Government to actively consider a proposal from the ACT to
participate in a national heroin trial,'' he said.

He said he would start talking to the Commonwealth and states within a month.

A trial would give addicts measured, reliable daily doses of heroin
to free them from chasing their next hit so they could live a more
normal life.