Pubdate: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Page: 10 Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ Author: J McCoy CALL FOR CUSTOMS FUNDING WHEN will the Government return the funding to Customs? Remember that ``big black hole'' that had to be filled three years ago? Well, money to our Customs was drastically cut then. I know at Port Kembla there were 16 Customs officers. For three years now we have had five officers working day shift/office hours, leaving this region wide open to heroin importation and goodness knows what else. Heroin is an evil drug and the people who finance the importation are evil people and should be dealt with as murderers. All their property should be confiscated and the money should go programs to help drug-addicted people. Coastal surveillance obviously needs an injection of funds. It's a worry when a boat carrying nearly 30 illegal immigrants can beach near Cairns. Perhaps it's time to do something about the over-generous parliamentary pensions and the perks we continue to pay each year to ex-prime ministers. I think this money could be better spent. J McCOY, North Wollongong. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry