Pubdate: Mon, 20 Mar 2000
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  GPO Box 3771, Sydney NSW 2001
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Author: Philip Cornford

TEST PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR DRUGS - PM'S ADVISER

The man heading the Prime Minister's drug offensive, Major Brian
Watters of the Salvation Army, wants all public servants involved in
drafting or implementing illicit drug programs to undergo compulsory
blood tests.

And Major Watters, chair of the Australian National Council on Drugs,
wants all Federal and State politicians - including the Prime Minister
- - to take voluntary blood tests.

Pointing to a "significant lobby" of NSW public servants pushing for
liberalisation of illicit drug laws, he said any who tested positive
should be immediately removed from their jobs and forced to undergo
rehabilitation.

"We can't have people in positions of influence who themselves have a
drug problem," Major Watters said.

He said public servants who had a significant say in drug policies and
who were themselves drug users "can be just as dangerous as someone
driving a bus under the influence of alcohol".

He said several people involved in the formulation of illicit drug
policies had "told me privately" they had smoked marijuana.

He said he was concerned about a number of drug liberalisation
policies being pushed by public servants and cited pressure to
establish "shooting galleries" in Sydney where heroin addicts could
legally inject and proposals in NSW and and ACT for free heroin use
among restricted test groups.

"I believe there is a significant lobby in the civil service of NSW
[who] are driving drug policies who want a more liberal attitude,"
Major Watters said.

He said he was referring mainly to health bureaucrats. He also singled
out Victoria, the ACT and South Australia.

Major Watters said compulsory blood tests were common in the United
States where people working in drug programs signed contracts
undertaking to stay drug free.

He said Salvation Army employees working with drug addicts underwent
compulsory and random blood tests.

He said he did not know of any politicians who had used illicit drugs
except for two NSW politicians who had admitted using marijuana.

Major Watters said he would advance his proposals for discussion at
the May meeting of the Australian National Council on Drugs.

Drug Watch Australia backed the idea of tests, with director Ms Jill
Pearman saying she would be willing to take a blood test.

The Prime Minister's office yesterday refused to comment on Major
Watters' comments.

The Communications Minister, Senator Alston, when asked about the
suggestion, said: "What particular drug does he think we're on?"
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MAP posted-by: Derek Rea