Family Group Rates Politicians and Parties for 2012

DOWNLOAD Full report http://valueyourvote.org.nz/ValueYourVote-Interim_Report_2012.pdf
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Family First NZ has released an Interim ‘Value Your Vote’ report card which rates the politicians and the political parties on how they have voted on key family and conscience issues during 2012.

The issues included reducing the harms of gambling, improving the child support scheme, increasing paid parental leave, banning street prostitution, raising the drinking age, changing the definition of marriage, Easter trading, and toughening bail laws to protect families from repeat violent offenders.

Gambling harm, street prostitution, drinking age, same-sex marriage, and Easter trading are traditionally conscience votes, although in some cases, politicians were voting along party lines.

“This report card is based on the performance of MP’s and the parties for 2012. Our Value Your Vote resource has been hugely popular during the general elections of 2008 and 2011 for informing families, so this annual report card is an interim update on the issues that were significant during 2012,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

In the overall ratings for political parties on the eight issues, NZ First scored highest with 88% followed by Labour on 77%, the Maori party on 67%, United Future 62%, National 61%, ACT 50%, Greens 38% and the Mana party on 25%.

In the rankings for individual MP’s, Labour MP’s Damien O’Connor and Su’a William Sio both scored a perfect 100% while Hone Harawira scored the lowest on 25%. Top ranking National MP’s were Chester Borrows, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Tim Macindoe, and Jonathan Young.

Prime Minister John Key scored the lowest of National MP’s with just 37.5%, while Labour leader David Shearer scored 75%, and Winston Peters was the highest of the party leaders scoring 87.5%

“Perhaps what is most surprising is how poorly the so-called conservative parties and politicians (National, ACT, United Future) have done in promoting moral and family issues such as supporting young families, protecting marriage and promoting sensible and safe alcohol laws,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“The street prostitution bill seems to have stalled despite the ongoing problems for communities, and it will be interesting to see whether National continues to support the bill aimed at reducing the harms of gambling after only guaranteeing support to a Select Committee.”

The results can also be viewed on the website http://valueyourvote.org.nz/end-of-year-2012.html
DOWNLOAD Full report http://valueyourvote.org.nz/ValueYourVote-Interim_Report_2012.pdf
Scoop Copy http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1301/Value_The_Vote_Brochure.pdf

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