Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 Source: West Australian (Australia) Copyright: 2004 West Australian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.thewest.com.au Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495 Authors: Steve Pennells, Monica Videnieks and Natasha Granath LIBS STARTED 'SOFT' DRUG PROGRAM, SAYS GALLOP Premier Geoff Gallop has hit back at claims his Government has a secret policing program soft on illicit drugs. But he conceded there should have been a public announcement when the Federal Government's scheme of cautioning first offenders with hard drugs was widened to include all the State. The change lets people caught for the first time with up to half a gram of amphetamines or heroin or up to two tablets of ecstasy or other drugs escape criminal penalty by going to three counselling sessions. "This is a Commonwealth initiative," Dr Gallop said yesterday. "It has been funded by the Commonwealth and it allows for the diversion of people into compulsory treatment. These sorts of programs are worth pursuing. There should have been a public announcement, but it is not a secret plan." Dr Gallop said he would await clear results from the program before deciding its future. "If the program is effective I believe we ought to continue with it," he said. "But if it is not effective I will be the first to recommend its closure." Attorney-General Jim McGinty said the Government supported programs to get small, first-time users off drugs and would seek an evaluation of the initative to ensure it was effective. The diversion program was part of the National Illicit Drug Strategy Initiatives agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments five years ago. It was funded by the Commonwealth and set up by the former coalition government. The current State Government had not changed the program. The decision to expand it statewide had been announced by then Coalition Police Minister Kevin Prince in December 2000. Police Minister Michele Roberts said the program was to protect people. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre information manager Paul Dillon said giving people caught with small amounts of drugs a caution and counselling sessions would reduce drug use by young people. "Just getting caught and having the police officer write the ticket for a caution can be enough to make a young person never try drugs again," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh