MEDIA RELEASE
10 June 2000

Gael Donoghue
Health Spokesperson

FOCUS ON WHAT’S BETWEEN THE EARS NOT BETWEEN THE LEGS!!

Gael Donoghue, Christian Heritage Health Spokesperson, says the results published from a recent study finding 10% of New Zealand children had sex under age 12, and 40% have lost their virginity by 14 years, underlines the need for parents and schools to teach self esteem, self respect and morality, rather than introduce condoms into schools and free contraception, as Laila Harre, Youth Affairs Minister, is calling for. Our children deserve more than that! To our (New Zealand’s) shame sexually transmitted diseases are rapidly rising among our young people and teenage pregnancies and abortions are one of the highest statistics in the Western world. To address this the Government, through Laila Harre, is making these very negative and fuelling proposals. “Just because burglaries are now out of hand in New Zealand do we supply free jemmies and getaway cars to all would-be and current burglars and criminals?” asks Mrs Donoghue. “Our children need to be taught to focus on brains not genitals.”

When Jenny Shipley was Health Minister the then National Government spent $16 million on ‘free’ contraception and sex education – look at the results! As stated above. Throwing money at these problems clearly does not work. Today general practitioners can order up to 144 condoms on a prescription to a Community Services Card holder costing that person $3.00, the remainder paid for by the taxpayer. The taxpayer continues to pay for the 15,500 annual abortions and the major part of oral contraceptives.

The Christian Heritage Party believes parental consent should govern the teaching of sex education which should be based on values of self esteem, self respect, responsibility, the understanding of consequences of behavioural actions, and the personal, healthy and societal benefits of commitment in marriage.

Contact: Mrs Gael Donoghue on (06) 347 6000 or (025) 514 980
Party Leader Graham Capill (021) 661 766

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