PM'S TOP DRUG ADVISER LINKED TO ZERO TOLERANCE GROUP

The prime minister's chief drug adviser served as a director for a radical
zero tolerance drug foundation which sought money from the federal
government, it was reported today.

The ABC's Four Corners said Australian National Council of Drugs (ANCD)
chairman Brian Watters joined the board of the radical Freedom from Drugs
Foundation in June 2000.

The foundation was based on the ideas of Swedish abstinence organisation
Hassela, which promotes prison terms for addicts who do not comply with
treatment.

The ABC said Major Watters, a Salvation Army campaigner handpicked by Prime
Minister John Howard to lead the drugs council, personally endorsed the
foundation's business plan.

The plan said the federal government was bound to support the foundation's
approach and offered to give the coalition credit for expected successes in
drug treatment if it was re-elected.

"This may flow through to a political opportunity for the Howard
government," the ABC quoted the document as saying.

"In fact, we may be able to interest them in a pre-election pledge to
devote millions to the cause!"

Major Watters told the ABC he was no longer involved with the foundation
and while he never formally disclosed his directorship to the ANCD, he had
been open with fellow council members about it.

But several members said he had never mentioned it to them, the ABC reported.

The ABC said Hassela had not received any federal funding and its
operations had stalled.

Major Watters was appointed ANCD chairman for another three years in March
last year, amid accusations Mr Howard had stacked the council with
supporters of his tough anti-drugs approach.