Heed The Nation, Labour

Tuesday 25 Nov 2003 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Crime & Justice

ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today demanded that Labour stop paying lip service to New Zealand's methamphetamine crisis, in the wake of reports that Women's Refuges are now experiencing the fallout from the `P' epidemic.

"If ever there were an issue to unify the nation, the methamphetamine problem is it - yet, rather than listening to the country, Labour prefers to bury its head in the sand and pretend everything is okay," Dr Newman said.

"Community leaders, mayors' forums, principals, teachers, parents, and police - not to mention Opposition MPs - have all cried out for action. What is Labour waiting for? Who else needs to be affected?

"Surely the cries for action are now deafening Police Minister George Hawkins and his Labour colleagues. This epidemic is completely out of control, but the Government does nothing more than point to its Budget and the police methamphetamine response units scheduled to commence in January.

"New Zealanders have had enough. Labour is supposed to be the Government - it should start acting like one. It is time for an independent inquiry into this problem, and Labour's pathetic response to it. Lip service will get us nowhere, it is time for action," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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