Thursday, 9 June 2005

UF lays down drugs challenge to Labour, Nats

United Future leader Peter Dunne today challenged both Labour and National to fill "their drugs policy vacuums", as he detailed United Future's drug policy going into the election.

"Neither of these parties have drugs policies and the public has a right to know where they stand on a particularly important and social and criminal issue.

"The public need to see a commitment from both parties to keeping New Zealand's young people as safe as possible from the scourge of drugs," Mr Dunne said.

"The reality is that United Future is the only reason that cannabis hasn't been legalised in New Zealand - and we're very proud of that fact, and the moreso for every piece of damning research that comes out and further informs the public of the dangers of this psychological damage done by this drug.

"Labour and National need to come out and tell the public if United Future's confidence and supply agreement with the Government is, as Nandor Tanczos described it, only a 'temporary obstacle' to legalising this drug.

"Labour needs to tell the public if its MP, Tim Barnett, was speaking for his party when he told NORML magazine that Green, ACT and labour MPs were most likely to support drug law reform," Mr Dunne said.

"United Future led the way with family policy and now every party has a family spokesperson - admittedly half-heartedly and begrudgingly in most cases. Now we're leading the way with drugs policy."

ENDS