Pubdate: Mon, 16 Apr 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: Aban Contractor, Higher Education Writer HOWARD ON A WINNER WITH BEER TAX TO HELP REFUGEES He could not win with the prime ministerial line on drugs, but yesterday Mr Richard Howard was onto a winner when he argued that Australia must do more for refugees. A 2c tax on beer would raise the necessary funds, the third-year University of NSW student said. The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, might not agree, but it was enough to sink his son's opponents, the Canberra-based Australian National University. It was all part of the cut and thrust of The Sydney Morning HeraldAustralian Intervarsity Debating Championships involving 400 students from 72 teams drawn from 22 universities. Earlier, Mr Howard had tried to argue that the war on drugs should focus on the family. He lost. It was a debate about priorities, a debate hampered by limited resources and limited funds. The war against supply had not worked, he said. "I'm not saying focus on the family to the complete exclusion of everyone else," he said. "But don't make [the fight against drugs] a mass approach ... We need to deal with the addicted, to recognise they have a problem. It's one of the most important things a family can do." The opposing team, Macquarie University, hit back. Peer group pressure, hardline parents and dwindling resources made winning the battle that much harder. Macquarie advocated involving families, schools and the community. A government-sponsored information kit, delivered to the family home, would barely scratch the surface, leaving many young addicts to "fall through the cracks". - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart