robson-on-politics 5 May 2005
robson-on-politics, a newsletter from Matt Robson MP
Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party
www.progressiveparty.org.nz
Thurs 5 May
Muslim eunuch beat Columbus to America?
Singapore Tourism Board is sponsoring an exhibit which organisers say will unveil "new information and evidence" in
support of the theory that a Chinese Muslim eunuch, one Mr. Zheng, landed in North America seven decades before
Christopher Columbus.
You think that is alarming?- Read This!
I thought I'd start off with the Muslim eunuch expansionist theory before the NZ First Party did, but also to get your
attention because I've got some important things to draw to your attention.
My proposed law change, which among other things seeks to raise the minimum alcohol purchasing age back to twenty years
of age, has got the greenlight to proceed to Parliament for MPs' consideration.
This is about the health of young people
My Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill gives parliamentarians from all parties a chance to
consider practical measures that we can collectively take in the face of the reality that alcohol is New Zealand's
Number One source of drug-related harm.
This isn't a blame-game or an anti-fun campaign. It is about protecting the health of the most vulnerable.
No matter how we voted in 1999, the objective evidence since Parliament's decision to lower the drinking age is that the
lower drinking age has exacerbated the problem of too many young people drinking heavily and at younger and younger
ages.
Drug Foundation on drinking age
NZDF Executive director Ross Bell says the 1999 decision to lower the drinking age is "well documented in many serious
negative social indicators, such as binge drinking rates, the accessibility of liquor for children younger than 16 and
drink driving rates among young people."
ALAC also wants increase in purchase age
The Alcohol Advisory Council also seeks to return the minimum legal purchase age for alcohol to 20. ALAC also notes this
is not a "quick fix" which is a very important comment and also very, very true.
My Bill proposes three measures that, together with many others, are part of a wider strategy to improve our drinking
culture.
All information about my Bill can be found at:
How do you say cut graduate debt in Mandarin?
Progressive Party Auckland members have selected two prominent New Zealanders with fluency in Chinese as candidates to
campaign for party votes in Auckland Central and Pakuranga electorates in September.
Educated at Nanyang University, Singapore, in economics, Tommy Tay is a well-known broadcaster and personality in the
Chinese community. Meng Ly, a survivor of the Cambodian 'killing fields', is a business entrepreneur and investor and
also fluent in Chinese.
Press conference: 4.30pm Friday at the Auckland Progressive Electorate Office, 186 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie - Tommy Tay,
Meng Ly and Matt Robson.
Progressive selects Fale Leleisiuao in Mana
I'm delighted that Progressive has selected Fale Leleisiuao to campaign for party votes in Mana in this year's election.
Fale lives in Porirua where she is a caregiver with CYFS and is currently involved in work to establish a residential
respite centre for youth at risk.
Progress on housing, Progressive wants more
Very shortly the coalition government will launch a very positive plan for the housing sector which identifies
priorities to further build on the government's programme of work in state housing and encouraging home ownership. In
September's election the Progressive Party will be campaigning to go further with a policy to do more for the lowest
income families to get them into their own homes.
ENDS