"We congratulate the Leader of the Opposition,Rt.Hon Mrs.Jenny Shipley, on her reaffirmation of the importance of accurate reproductive and sexual health information,and the role of community service organisations in provision of safer sex information." said Craig Young,ALRANZ Research Officer today.

"New Zealand is indeed fortunate that we have had two such capable pragmatic, hard-working and committed women in Health and Prime Ministerial portfolios over the last decade.

ALRANZ hopes that there will be bipartisan cooperation over practical measures that can be accomplished to deal with problems like teenage pregnancies, lack of accurate information about contraceptives and added subsidisation of them, HIV/AIDS and STD risks.

In particular, we hope that Labour and National's leaders will both commit themselves to a review of Section 105C of the Education Act, so that our young people can receive properly evidence-based material on comprehensive sex education that will lead to reduced teenage pregnancies, reduced abortions, reduced STD and HIV/AIDS risks, and reduced cost to the taxpayer, as it has in the Netherlands."

"We share Mrs.Shipley's support for community service organisations that work in these areas, as they perform invaluable duties in protection of our nation's reproductive and sexual health."

Contact: Craig Young Research Officer ALRANZ 06 3569099/ 7750 unheimlichmann@yahoo.com.au

Dr.Margaret Sparrow National President ALRANZ 04 4759886

Craig Young (noun): Doctoral candidate, Massey University School of Sociology and Women's Studies.

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