Media statement
for immediate release
Thursday, 11 December, 2003

Dunne salutes johnny-come-lately 'family' parties

None of the parties that today completed their "abysmal run of anti-family voting" against the Families Commission Bill actually had a families spokesperson prior to the arrival of United Future's eight MPs in August last year, leader Peter Dunne said today.

"Indeed one party, that shall remain nameless but which recently appointed a dry as dust ex-banker to its top post, decided just nine weeks ago that it would now be a splendid idea.

"Nine weeks ago - and the party was only formed in 1936!"

"Such is their commitment, that despite their impassioned parliamentary pleas on behalf of the 'traditional' family, they voted against the most family-friendly legislation in living memory!"

"And of course, New Zealand First, supports families - I mean they tell us so, don't they?

"As long as they're the right colour and have been here long enough.

"There's never been a bandwagon Winston didn't jump on board, so they lined someone up after the last election when it became clear that people would vote on what was good for the family, by delivering eight United Future MPs into Parliament.

"And ACT's devotion to the family - or the functional economic unit, as it would prefer to call it - is positively heart-warming - and again quite coincidentally dates back to after the last election and United Future's arrival on the scene.

"The Greens? Well, they've never quite managed to name a spokesperson, but will defend to the hilt a parent's right to have a stash of dope, but God forbid that their kids should eat Coco-Pops."

Ends.

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