Dunne Should Resign

New Zealand First Spokesperson for Social Policy Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor is calling for Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne to step down after he announced a hasty blanket ban on legal highs yesterday.

Prime Minister John Key should also take responsibility for bringing back an inadequate minister,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

“Mr Dunne’s sudden u-turn on legal highs comes nearly a year after he put a weak law through that did nothing to end the growing crisis.

“He sat on his hands while a culture of synthetic drug taking was being embedded in our communities.

“The number of people using legal highs is now vast and families, communities, police and hospitals must now deal with a new stream of addicted users.

“Saying that the delayed announcement of the ban was to avoid stockpiling of legal high products is a lame attempt to distract from the real issue – his mess.
“The serious threat to the health of New Zealand families and communities posed by the sale of legal highs was painstakingly obvious. The Government should have addressed the issue appropriately years ago.

“There was never anything positive to come out of synthetic drugs – only misery. We saw frightening evidence of the major health problems they cause, and their direct influence on domestic and family violence.

“New Zealand First has pushed for an outright ban on legal highs since last year after the Psychoactive Substances Act came into force because it was a major concern brought to us by people in the community.

“This legal highs shambles is yet another example of a Government that is completely out-of-touch,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

ENDS

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