Pubdate: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ LEADERS TO FOCUS ON DRUGS Labor called yesterday for stronger national leadership, and a broader and better co-ordinated approach to address Australia's illegal drug problem days before the country's political leaders meet to consider the issue. At the same time, the Queensland Labor Government approved trials of new heroin treatments while Victorian Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett said he would press for Commonwealth approval needed to pursue a heroin trial in spite of Prime Minister John Howard's opposition. Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley released Labor's discussion paper on illicit drug use, three days before state and territory leaders meet Mr Howard at the premiers' conference where drugs will top the agenda. The paper calls for a nationally co-ordinated drugs strategy, efforts to reduce demand and supply, including making it easier to confiscate the proceeds of criminal activities, helping drug addicts and their families, and offering opportunity and hope to young people through jobs, education and training. "The national drugs strategy defined previously had its day, did reasonably well at the time, but is now insubstantial and unfocused," Mr Beazley said. Labor remains unconvinced by proposed heroin trials but is prepared to monitor overseas trials and to support Australian trials if expert opinion backs this. Victoria and the ACT need Commonwealth permission to import heroin for their trials agreed to at the premiers' drug summit several weeks ago. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D