DATE: Saturday May 28 2005

Russell Franklin campaigns for Progressive party votes in Otaki
Matt Robson MP

The Progressive Party has selected Dr. Russell Franklin as its candidate in Otaki, north of Wellington, where he will be campaigning for party votes in this year's general election.

"I am delighted to announce that Dr Russell Franklin will again be flying our party's flag in this year's election," says Progressive deputy leader, Hon. Matt Robson MP

"I know Russell will raise the party vote tally for Progressive in Otaki between now and Election Day due by the end of September because he did a credible job in 2002 when he had just a few weeks' notice of the election date," Matt Robson said.

As someone with considerable experience in the health sector, Dr. Franklin is particularly keen to promote two of the Progressive Party's key Election 2005 policies.

"The first is our policy to reduce tertiary graduates' debt in return for them committing to using their skills working in New Zealand. The second, which is a vital public health issue of concern to many in the medical world - Progressive's policy to raise the legal alcohol purchasing age back to twenty years of age," Matt Robson said.

Progressive candidates are campaigning for peoples' party vote this year as your pro-economic development and anti-drugs insurance policy.

Dr Russell Franklin - Otaki

Russell is a fourth generation Kiwi, born in Wellington and raised in Lower Hutt, where he attended local schools and played in local sports teams. He studied medicine at Otago University before undertaking post-graduate training at Dunedin Hospital and at hospitals in Melbourne and London. He extended his specialist knowledge at a number of medical institutions overseas.

Having studied when higher education was free, or fully subsidized by the government, Russell is particularly keen on promoting the benefits to New Zealand of Progressive's graduate debt relief policy. He also strongly supports policies designed to assist working families stay in the workforce, at out of welfare, like the Progressive Party's successful 2003 campaign in favour of four weeks annual leave for workers.

The Progressive Party is a partner in the coalition government first elected in 1999. Its leader, Jim Anderton, is the third ranked Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Economic, Industry and Regional Development and the government's campaign to reduce the harm caused by drugs.

Deputy leader Matt Robson's Bill, proposing among other things to strengthen liquor advertising law and raising the minimum alcohol purchasing age, is due again be debate in Parliament on June 8.

ENDS

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