QLD: Govt criticised over drug funding cut

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2000
QLD: Govt criticised over drug funding cut

BRISBANE, Feb 1 AAP - Liberal leader David Watson today condemned the Beattie government's
80 per cent cut to drug education funding in Queensland schools.

Dr Watson said that 700 schools had been involved in a $1.4 million Life Education
anti-drug program initiated by the last Queensland coalition government three years ago.

Thirty of the schools were in the Bundamba and Woodridge areas where crucial by-elections
will be held on Saturday.

"Premier Peter Beattie has pulled the plug on drug education in Queensland," Dr Watson said.

Instead, Mr Beattie was trying to score political points by announcing three drug courts,
two in the by-election districts, he said.

The Life Education program was established in 1979 by the Rev Ted Noffs at Sydney's
Wayside Chapel.

It is now internationally recognised and is being used throughout Australia and in
the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Dr Watson said that since the program was launched in Queensland in 1997, 150,000 students
had attended anti-drug courses.

"I can't understand how the Labor Government can spend $200 million on a super stadium
and millions more on drug courts but can't find $500,000 to keep Life Education going
in Queensland," he said.

Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred said: "The Beattie government
has effectively expelled drug education from Queensland schools."

A survey in 1996 found 50 per cent of Queensland's Year 12 students had used marijuana
and 10 per cent had used hard drugs.

AAP geb/sc/lw/

KEYWORD: DRUGS QLD

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