FED: Beazley calls for criticism but not politics on drugs

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-1999
FED: Beazley calls for criticism but not politics on drugs

CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - The premiers' debate on the drug menace this Friday should be free
of party politics but not criticism, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said today.

"Bipartisan approach is always best but you also need to keep the criticism up where there
is a shortfall," Mr Beazley told the Seven Network.

The coalition government's reduction of Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs
Service resources in its first term was one such area for criticism.

"They've put that back, that is barely enough," Mr Beazley said. "Much more needs to be
done."

Mr Beazley said Australia was responding to an emergency situation in the heroin scourge.

Federal Labor remained unconvinced about the value of a heroin trial but would keep an open
mind if overseas evidence suggested a trial was warranted.

"It's not going to be a solution whether it comes in or not for anything other than a very
small number of addicts and resources ought to be going elsewhere," Mr Beazley said.

"We're not yet convinced of a position on heroin trials."

The federal government was considering a plan under which people found with illicit drugs
would have to undertake compulsory treatment, The Sydney Morning Herald said today.

But a spokesman for the prime minister said the report was speculation.

"The commonwealth will be taking a number of measures to the premiers' conference but I'm
not in a position to comment on press speculation on what they might be," the spokesman said.

AAP rmg/mfh/ms/br

KEYWORD: DRUGS BEAZLEY

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