a newsletter from Matt Robson MPDeputy Leader of the Progressive Party
www.progressiveparty.org.nz

Because it’s a democracy, drinking age will rise

The overwhelming majority of New Zealanders I meet want Parliament to act effectively to turn the tide against youth binge drinking. If Progressive is in the next coalition government, we will negotiate an agreement with Labour to allow Parliament the opportunity to reconsider the drinking age. We are confident that if MPs examine all of the public health evidence they will share Progressive's conclusion that Parliament's decision to lower the drinking age in 1999 was a mistake for public health and personal security reasons and we should undo the damage.
http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=106

Nor do we want herbal highs sold to children

Talking about steps to make our communities safer, do readers agree with concerned parents protesting in Christchurch against those wanting to sell herbal highs (also known as legal 'party pills') to minors? As a parent, I find it shocking that anyone with a brain would even contemplate selling party pills to very young teenagers and it is a shame on the miserable few that Parliament is now going to have to act to protect communities by changing the law. http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1560

Progressive to contest all seats in Election

Just to confirm to those that have asked me recently: Progressive is aiming to select candidates for all seats to campaign for the Party Vote this General Election.

The silent "Law and Order" parties

Thanks to those who sent responses to my question about why so-called "Law and Order' parties are so very silent when it comes to getting tough on the peddlers of alcohol to minors. This week the Permanent Opposition Party showed itself yet again to be very soft on important issues of personal security. At least if Mr. Banks becomes ACT leader this anti-Kiwi nonsense will stop from that sad party.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10115473

Mr Tamihere owed an apology

Politicians' comments in Parliament under Parliamentary privilege can be more damaging than bad government policy, the Independent Business Weekly very correctly said in an important editorial yesterday. I'd just add that the same goes for successful tertiary institutions. In our country, you are innocent unless proven otherwise and ACT and NZ First could assist public respect for politicians if they fully corrected statements made in Parliament that have since proved to be wrong.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10115574

NZ First banking on a repeat of ‘96

NZ First campaigned hard in the 1996 election as the only party people should trust to get rid of the Bolger-led government of the day. After votes had been cast, NZ First shocked those who had voted for it. Instead of getting rid of Bolger, NZ First joined him in government. In the following three years, key strategic national assets (Auckland’s monopoly airport gateway to the world and major electricity company Contact Energy among them) were hocked off at bargain basement prices. At a future date I’ll recount what the National-led government proposed to do to National Superannuation in the wake of a financial market problem affecting parts of Asia.
http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1555

Gag on Needle Exchange hurts war on AIDS

I was shocked to read about U.S. efforts to force the United Nations to withdraw support for needle exchange programmes. HIV is a huge global challenge. In Budget 2004, Progressive successfully sought funding to institute one-for-one exchange. Progressive will on Saturday be at the opening of the Christchurch exchange's new home.
http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=930

National smashed forestry, apprenticeships

National, abetted by United and NZ First in the ‘90s, shut down the Ministry of Foresty and sold-off what was left of our forests that hadn’t already been sold by Labour in the ‘80s. National-led governments also scrapped the traditional apprenticeship system in the ‘90s.

The record of United and NZ First as junior partners in National-led governments is a shocking awful contrast to what Progressive has achieved for apprenticeships and forestry inside of government since 1999.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1617 and training more people for industries
http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1617

More on these and other stories of the week is at http://www.progressive.org.nz

ENDS