Pubdate: Thu, 13 May 1999 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Contact: http://www.smh.com.au/ Author: Julia Baird SUMMIT IS ONLY A START, NEW MINISTER SAYS The Assistant Treasurer, Mr John Della Bosca, played down the role of the Drug Summit yesterday, adding to fears the Government does not expect the meeting to solve the drug problem. In his first parliamentary speech, Mr Della Bosca said the Drug Summit, to be held next week, would not provide answers "in a neat package". "Rather, working through the problems is more likely to deliver solutions-oriented actions rather than a single policy prescription". A former ALP party boss, Mr Della Bosca, 42, was elevated to the front bench immediately after winning a seat in the Upper House in the March election. He is considered the most influential minister after the Premier. His official title is Assistant Treasurer and Special Minister of State. Although he is without portfolio, his role is that of a roving Mr Fixit, who will put the imprimatur of the Government's view in various policy areas. He is the third member - with Mr Carr and Mr Egan - of Cabinet's most powerful group, the Budget Committee. Mr Della Bosca's comments are in line with Government strategy on the Drug Summit. He argued for a need to listen to different views and break out of the two models of thinking in the drug debate: free heroin, or prohibition. The responsibility for the problem needed to be spread across the community, Mr Della Bosca said. "The only way we can play our role as leaders in the community is to ask people not to look to us, the politicians, as those who should make the decisions." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea