“I have only one thing to say to Rod Donald and Tim Barnett - I told you so!” said Ron Mark MP, New Zealand First
Spokesman for Law and Order.
Mr Mark was responding to the ridiculous empty suggestions by the two MPs that the problems created by drunken teenage
delinquents on our streets and the consequent tragedies being witnessed in our hospitals are a result of the Police and
bar operators not enforcing the law.
“Let’s remind the mums and dads who are seeing their lives and the lives of their children ruined by booze, that it was
these politicians who, without any mandate from the public supported the ill-fated legislation lowering the drinking
age.
“The consequences are that, as I predicted, 18 year old boys and their 15-16 year old girlfriends can pull up to the
bottle store, buy alcohol and share it with their younger friends.
“Coupled with cuts in budgets and understaffing, the Police were never going to be able to handle this politician-made
problem. I told the House that if the Police, with the meagre resources they have, were to actively police this new law
by arresting every drunken teenager, they would be doing nothing else, “ said Mr Mark.
“Barnett, Donald and their liberal friends knew better then. It’s a bit rich and a bit late for them to be bemoaning the
fallout of their actions now. They should accept responsibility for their poor decisions – the buck stops with them,”
said Mr Mark.
Ends