Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 1999 Source: Advertiser, The (Australia) Contact: http://www.advertiser.com.au/ PROSECUTORS COMBINE ON DRUG REFORM TWO top prosecutors have joined South Australia's Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Paul Rofe, to try to liberalise heroin and marijuana laws. Mr Rofe, the New South Wales DPP, Mr Nick Cowdery, and the Australian Capital Territory's DPP, Mr Richard Refshauge, called yesterday for heroin to be given free to addicts in safe injecting rooms to reduce crime and ease overloaded courts. Their united push follows Mr Rofe's controversial statement last week that he had no objection to marijuana being sold from the "corner deli" in the fight against illicit drugs. Mr Rofe told an Adelaide drug conference that laws had failed to curb drug problems. He said more radical solutions, including government-controlled supply of marijuana and heroin, should be considered. Yesterday, in a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, Mr Howard's, zero-tolerance-to-drugs policy, the three DPPs called for urgent liberalisation of drug laws. In a joint statement, they said governments should concentrate on curbing the health and social effects of drugs, rather than just putting users through the courts. The proposed changes would include free heroin for prisoners, a heroin trial for registered addicts and ultimately safe injecting rooms. They also called on State and Territory governments to treat marijuana in the same way as tobacco, to expand needle exchanges and to improve educational programs to keep children off drugs. The statement stressed drug dealers would receive no leniency under their recommendations. "The criminal dealing in prohibited drugs would continue to be policed rigorously; the resources available to do it would be increased and the incidence of drug-related offences against private property would substantially decline," the DPPs said. They said if the heroin trial for registered addicts were successful, the drug should be freely available. "The availability of free heroin on prescription to registered addicts in safe circumstances would significantly reduce the illicit market and consequently the large profits, the motive for the commission of drug-related property crime," they said. "It would also substantially reduce morbidity and mortality from intravenous drug use." The statement comes as Sydney's Wayside Chapel intends defying authority again today by allowing its premises to be used as a safe injecting house. Wayside staff said last night they expected police to visit their Tolerance Room between 2pm and 4pm when the shooting gallery would be open for business. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry