Source: West Australian, The (Australia) Contact: FAX: +61 8 94823830 Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct, 1998 Page: 43 Author: Wendy Pryer AIRLINE CRITICISED FOR SAFE NEEDLES PLAN THE State Government has written to Ansett Airlines to complain about its decision to provide bins on planes so drug users can dispose of needles safely. Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker told the Legislative Assembly yesterday the policy sent a message that illicit drug use was acceptable. Her letter says: "This initiative sends out the message to Ansett passengers and the community at large, that intravenous drug use on aircraft is normal and accepted behaviour. "I view this move by a company with your standing in the community as a step towards the normalisation of drugs in the community," it says. In the letter, Mrs Parker offered to brief the company on the WA Government's drug abuse strategy. She said in WA, the Government promoted opposition to drug use and help for those trying to give up drugs, including harm minimisation strategies such as the provision of needles and syringes and their "appropriate disposal". Labor frontbencher Alannah MacTiernan, a member of the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform, said the Government response was ludicrous. She said the Government could well have provided the needles being discarded unsafely on Ansett planes. "This is (Ansett's policy) simply a harm minimisation exercise and Mrs Parker should be able to explain why it should not be supported whereas the actual provision of needles is," Ms MacTiernan said. Ansett defended its policy, saying it was not aware of criticism from other State governments. Ansett spokesman Peter Young said yesterday six syringes had been found on planes in the past six weeks. They were often discarded down the backs of seats and posed a great danger to staff and passengers. He said the airline first noticed a problem in 1995. Mr Young rejected any suggestion that the policy encouraged drug use and said Ansett handed people suspected of using drugs on planes over to the police. He said drug authorities, the Australian Medical Association, the AIDS Foundation and treatment centres had supported safe disposal of needles on planes. - --- Checked-by: Don Beck