Jacqui Dean
National Party MP

20 December

Anderton cops out on party pills

National MP Jacqui Dean says today's party pill announcement doesn't go far enough.

The Associate Health Minister, Jim Anderton revealed recommendations by the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) to make the common ingredients in party pills illegal.

He has said there are a number of legal steps he must follow before making a final decision, which isn't likely until March next year.

"It's not good enough," says Mrs Dean.

"Jim Anderton has lost the opportunity to do something really important here and announce a ban on party pill ingredients.

"Instead he has taken the easy way out and in doing so could be risking the lives of many young New Zealanders.

"Jim Anderton has admitted there are 'severe adverse affects' with the use of party pills, yet he still won't take the final step to ban them.

"I am not asking Mr Anderton to act illegally - I'm just asking him to use his common sense.

"Surely after almost 12 months of research and discussion he should have been ready at this time to announce a ban on party pills, and not just make more empty promises."

ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>