Pubdate: Wed, 21 Mar 2001
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 The Age Company Ltd
Contact:  250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Website: http://www.theage.com.au/
Forum: http://forums.f2.com.au/login/login.asp?board=TheAge-Talkback
Author: Kerry Taylor

PM NAMES HIS NEW DRUG PANEL

Prime Minister John Howard, criticised for stacking his drugs advisory 
board with advocates of zero tolerance, yesterday announced the board's new 
makeup.

The seven new members reflected the changing focus of the council and 
continued to represent a wide range of views and expertise, Mr Howard said 
in a statement.

But the appointments were criticised by drug users, family support groups 
and Labor.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said:

"The drugs debate needs to involve a variety of voices and a variety of 
solutions, not only those the Prime Minister wants to hear."

New members of the board include David Crosbie, executive director of 
Odyssey House Victoria and a supporter of evidence-based drugs policy;

Anne Bressington, founder of the SA DrugBeat program and a zero tolerance 
advocate; Nick Gill, manager of the Drug and Alcohol Association in Alice 
Springs; Julie Hanbury from the Parent Drug Information Service in WA; 
Professor John Saunders from Queensland; Terry Woolley from the Secondary 
Principals Association and Garth Popple from drug user group We Help Ourselves.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens