Fed: Howad demands leaders to halt injecting rooms

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-1999
Fed: Howad demands leaders to halt injecting rooms

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has reportedly written to the New South Wales Premier demanding
that the state's safe injecting room be put on hold.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Mr HOWARD called for state and territory leaders
to confer urgently after he received a letter from the United Nations International Narcotics
Control Board.

Mr HOWARD wrote to NSW Premier BOB CARR saying he can't ignore assertions that what
is proposed could be in breach of Australia's international obligations.

But the NSW Government is adamant the trial should go ahead.

NSW Special Minister for State JOHN DELLA BOSCA says Mr HOWARD should be defending
the right of the Australian community to respond to the drug problem as it sees fit.

He says an international agency should not be dictating Australian policies.

The UN says it could not justify the injecting room as a clinical trial.

International Narcotics Control Board president A.L. Martins wrote to Australia's mission
to the UN in Vienna on November 17.

AAP RTV sal/pjg .

KEYWORD: HEROIN HOWARD (SYDNEY)

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