Protect your democratic rights

It is time make sure you are enrolled to vote in this year's election. The 2005 Enrolment Update Campaign uses the animated orange 'elector' character to draw attention to the need to enrol. Check your letterbox over the next few days.

If you, or someone you know, don't get an Enrolment Update Pack, then fill in an enrolment form by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56), or visit a PostShop or go online to http://www.elections.org.nz - Protect your right to participate in your democracy.

Having your say

Information sheets on suicide prevention, in Samoan, Niue, Cook Islands Maori and Tongan, were blessed in a ceremony on Sunday at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Henderson.

The information material were developed by Suicide Prevention Information NZ. The information sheets are available from SPINZ by emailing info@spinz.org.nz and will also be distributed through Pacific health agencies.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/

What kind of Labour-led government?

The last time we had a Labour Government it sold Air New Zealand, PostBank, banks, forests etc. Unemployment rose, as did welfare, crime and substance abuse.

On May Day 1989, Jim Anderton and many others of us had enough of that little game and we formed a new independent-of-Labour progressive party and the progressive Left has been represented in Parliament ever since - these days in coalition government with Labour.

Last night, Progressive members selected well-known Auckland broadcasting personality, Tommy Tay, as our candidate in Auckland Central. Suki Amirapu, also well known in Auckland for his work in business and the community, was selected for Mt. Roskill.

Progressive candidates are campaigning for peoples' party vote this year as your pro-economic development and anti-drugs insurance policy. If you support increased investment in higher education, favour the economic development of our regions and want tough decisions on youth binge drinking and other drug problems, then our candidates' message is Party Vote Progressive so we can keep the next Helen Clark-led government forward-looking and progressive.

BZP needs age restrictions

The Press ran a story yesterday about a 15-year old schoolgirl who suffered a seizure after taking with BZP party pills obtained from a half price sale. It is completely wrong that children are being sold these party pills and I look forward to Parliament moving to restrict the sales of BZP pills to adults as a first precautionary measure.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff

Doctor rubbishes "safe" Nos claim

Using nitrous oxide (or ‘Nos’) to get high can starve the brain of oxygen, interfere with metabolism, suppress the immune system and cause permanent organ damage. That is the verdict of the Society of Anaesthetists in the wake of the Crown Law's legal opinion that the sale of Nos for inhaling is illegal under the Medicines Act.

Multifaceted approach to fighting drugs

Thanks to Progressive, the coalition government has a sophisticated strategy to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs. We are committed to reducing demand through community and school initiatives.

We are committed to investing more in treatment services to help the victims of the drug peddlers get back on to their feet with a second chance to lead drug-free lives. We are also investing more in scientific research into the effects of drugs so that we can pursue a genuinely evidenced-based anti-drugs strategy.

And one part of our strategy also involves getting tough on the peddlers of dangerous drugs, like those gangsters that sell P to the young. The government this week announced that the Serious Fraud Office will handle asset seizures under new Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Jim Peron, Asians, Iraqis - who is the next victim?

If Peters’ innuendo wasn’t so dangerous he would be a laughing stock. But if Peters is looking for another candidate, David Bishop (Church of the Militant Elvis) who is standing in this week’s UK election, would be perfect for NZ First. He promises to put giant photos of celebrities at Heathrow and Gatwick airports "to discourage undesirable foreigners from entering Britain.”

Find more real Parliamentary news stories are at http://www.progressive.org.nz

© Scoop Media