Listen up all you dope-smoking dole-bludgers, anti-immunisation sympathisers, dodgy ship skippers and people who bring fruit home from overseas in hand luggage. The politicians have you in their sights.
National's new social welfare policy promises to stop benefit payments to anybody who fails a workplace drugs test or won't apply for a job because of drugs. Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett says this could impact on Northland in particular because the area needs drug-free forestry workers but currently Work and Income doesn't put people forward for such jobs if drugs could be a problem.
The party is also pledging to increase the immunisation rate in 8-month-olds to 95 per cent.
In the wake of the Rena disaster, the Greens want any government they work with to prevent further oil spills and do a better job cleaning any up. They want a moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and exploitation, local crews on ships in New Zealand waters, and to ensure in future tax payers do not have to pay for any clean-ups.
Meanwhile, Labour is promising to restore $2 million to the biosecurity budget cut by National. Labour would review the current border management systems to make sure standards are not being compromised. They are also planning a summit for the bee industry - good news for apiarists and honey-lovers!
