Media statement
For immediate release
17 August 2010

Dunne pleased Nats will limit conscience vote on alcohol

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has backed the National Caucus’ decision to limit their use of the conscience vote in considering the upcoming alcohol reform legislation.

“I am pleased that National has largely taken the conscience vote off the table,” said Mr Dunne.

“In my opinion party caucuses have often used a conscience vote on alcohol issues as a kind of cop-out. While the party is somewhat protected from public criticism the end result is an inevitable dog’s breakfast of inconsistent legislation.”

“Such ad-hoc law-making has directly led to the current hodgepodge of alcohol legislation we now find ourselves having to review.”

“Licensing, trading hours, advertising and other issues relating to the treatment of alcohol deserve to be handled in a much more focussed and consistent fashion than the conscience vote allows.”

“I agree with the use of the conscience vote with regards to the purchase age, but it should be limited to that,” said Mr Dunne

ENDS

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