Adam Cresswell; 17/3/09; (2 Items)
Heavy heroin is returning to Australia due to a global boom in opium production, leading to record numbers of border seizures, a near-doubling in the amount of the drug confiscated within the country and rising rates of overdoses. The nation’s top illicit drugs advisory body says action needs to be taken now to prevent a return to the crisis levels of heroin use and importation in 1998-99. Any increase in heroin use means serious risk of increased transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25197880-5013404,00.html; http://www.theage.com.au/national/warning-on-heroin-influx-20090316-8zwp.html
Alcopops bill to hit blockade in Senate
Christian Kerr; 17/3/09
The Rudd Government’s alcopops tax hike seems set to stumble at the last hurdle after independent senator Nick Xenophon and the Greens indicated late last night they would oppose the move. The obstacle emerged as crossbench senators negotiated with the Government over the bill, which was intended to raise $1.6 billion over the next four years. “The Government claimed this was a health initiative, but it was clearly only ever a tax measure,” Senator Xenophon said last night.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25198024-5013404,00.html; http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/16/1237054738844.html