Tuesday, 7 February 2006

United Future seeks urgent action on drivers

United Future leader Peter Dunne today called on the Government to take urgent action on behalf of public transport drivers who have lost their jobs because of minor sex offences many decades ago.

A recent law change has made it impossible for drivers to be employed who have convictions for sexual offences.

The law was intended to protect the public from rapists and other serious offenders, but also caught drivers who may have had consensual sex with their underage girlfriends many years ago.

The United Future caucus says such people should at least have a right of appeal against losing their jobs, as they have led blameless lives since the original offence and losing their employment now is a form of double jeopardy.

ENDS

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