AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-1999
FED: Premiers welcomes drugs plans, with some resvervations
CANBERRA, April 9 AAP - Premiers today welcomed Prime Minister John Howard's push for a
national approach to the drugs problem, despite some reservations.
Queensland premier Peter Beattie said education would be an important component and young
people in particular needed to be warned about the problems with drugs.
"It has to be done sensibly and sensitively in the school system.I welcome that. That is a
good move," he said on ABC Radio .
"There are some measures for prisons. Of course, we end up with a bill on that because
prisons are run by the state, as are schools.
"I do have some concern. I want to make certain that money that goes into rehabilitation is
influenced, I would prefer controlled, because we can then have a comprehensive view about
rehabilitation."
Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said they needed to see how Mr Howard would back his
national drugs scheme with money.
"There is no money being spoken of and there is no indication of how that money is going to
be directed," he said.
"But I don't want to be churlish. If we spend another million in trying to assist people on
drugs, it's a million dollars we are not spending now so it's in the right direction."
Mr Kennett said he was concerned about proposed mandatory treatment as people could not be
forced to be treated.
"But I think there is a lot to be said within the prime minister's proposal," he said. "We
don't, on our side, accept the concept of zero tolerance. I think the prime minister has put a
genuine proposition forward. We go in with an open mind."
Mr Kennett said a national drugs death tally was a good idea and similar moves to highlight
road deaths had proved effective.
"Right now our road toll in Victoria is 100. Our deaths through heroin is 102," he said.
"We have got to talk more about it."
MORE mb/kr
KEYWORD: PREMIERS DRUGS
1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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