Pubdate: Thu, 09 Aug 2001
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Author: Cynthia Banham and Linda Doherty

NCA CALLS FOR RADICAL HEROIN TRIAL

The National Crime Authority called yesterday for a medically supervised 
heroin trial to help combat the drug trafficking and money laundering cycle 
which was fuelling the pervasive spread of organised crime.

The NCA called on the Federal Government to consider options "previously 
deemed unpalatable", such as treating the supply of addictive drugs as a 
medical and treatment matter, "subject to the supervision of a treating 
doctor and supplied from a repository that is government controlled".

But Mr Howard immediately rejected the proposal, telling Parliament "while 
ever this Government is in office and while ever I am Prime Minister of 
this country, there will be no heroin trial".

At the same time, Dr Alex Wodak, one of Australia's leading drug reformers, 
said the NCA's support of new approaches was "a step in the right 
direction" and should be encouraged as part of a national strategy against 
drug abuse.

The NCA chairman, Mr Gary Crooke, admitting that the drug trial approach 
was "pretty radical", said: "Everything should be considered, nothing 
should be rejected, we've got a terrible problem here on our hands and the 
essence of that approach is to attack the profit motive ...

"If something can be done to combat this enormous opportunity to make 
profit and to control a price perhaps that is one of the many matters 
worthy of consideration."

Mr Crooke, releasing the NCA's first public report into organised crime, 
said that drug trafficking had "grown exponentially" and the profits had 
"almost grown beyond comprehension". It should be given the same priority 
and attention as threats to national security.

A trafficker could bring a kilogram of heroin into Australia for $9,000, 
and sell it to a dealer for $90,000. Illicit drug abuse was costing the 
country $1.7 billion annually, and Australia could not afford to be complacent.

Attacking the NCA's strategy, Mr Howard said: "I take this opportunity of 
totally rejecting the suggestion raised by the chairman of the National 
Crime Authority that consideration be given to a heroin trial.

"It remains the policy of this Government to totally oppose heroin trials 
in this country. We will give no aid or comfort, or any encouragement, to 
any State or Territory."

In a swipe at the crime authority, Mr Howard added that "those who advocate 
heroin trials are misguided".

However, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beazley, said he would have "a 
disposition to view it favourably" if any State approached him about a 
heroin trial.

Dr Wodak, director of drug and alcohol services at St Vincent's Hospital, 
said yesterday: "A heroin trial is not a panacea but it's a form of 
treatment for a small group of people for whom no other treatment works.

"The problem we have is with an intransigent political leader, the prime 
minister, who does not listen to the strengths of the arguments, including 
from law enforcement bodies."

Dr Wodak said it was 20 years since a heroin trial was first recommended to 
the Wran Government in NSW and 10 years since the ACT Legislative Assembly 
proposed a trial involving giving prescription heroin to a small group of 
addicts.

The NSW Government, which approved the opening of a medically supervised 
injecting room in Kings Cross in May, said yesterday that it did not 
support a heroin trial.

A spokeswoman for the Premier said NSW would however continue its policy of 
evidence-based trials such as the injecting room, in tandem with tougher 
jail penalties for drug dealers, and increased methadone and rehabilitation 
funding.

The NCA also said that money laundering - a mainstay of organised crime - 
was an "enormous" problem, involving $3 billion to $9 billion a year in 
Australia.

Mr Crooke said it was being made easier by globalisation, and was "the 
quintessential beneficiary of technological advances".

He said Australia's federal system was limiting the NCA's ability to 
counter organised crime because State police forces only had power to 
operate within State borders.

For example, warrants for listening devices were valid only within the 
borders of one State.

Mr Crooke said efforts to fix this problem were continuing.
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