Paul Maley & Adam Cresswell; 18/3/09; (2 Items)
The Rudd Government has moved to reassert the role of controversial harm-reduction strategies in the fight against the illicit drug trade, splitting from the US at a major international drug forum on the issue. As law enforcement and health workers report an increase in the amount of heroin on Australia’s streets and the number of overdoses, Australian National Council on Drugs executive director Gino Vumbaca said the election of the Rudd Government had heralded a shift in rhetoric in the fight against the drug trade. Mr Vumbaca said that under the Howard government, there was an “over-emphasis” on anti-drug strategies that focused on the supply and interdiction of illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25203445-5013404,00.html
Alcopops bill still in the mix
Christian Kerr;18/3/09
The fate of the Rudd Government’s alcopops tax hike remains up in the air after a day of political ping-pong saw the legislation batted between the chambers of parliament. The Senate returned the measure to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, but with Coalition changes the Government says are unacceptable. The move maintains pressure on the Government to either make further concessions or risk seeing the measure defeated when it is returned to the Senate. Six of the seven crossbench senators earlier reached an agreement with the Government, saying they would support its controversial tax on ready-to-drink beverages.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25203383-5013404,00.html