Three strikes consultation a farce

The three strikes legislation is being forced through the Select Committee process with no regard to the public’s right to have its say, the Green Party said today.

“What we saw today in Select Committee was a joke. The Nats aren’t letting people have their say and they won’t let the opposition put in a minority report which shows how flawed and ineffective this legislation is,” said David Clendon, Green Party Corrections Spokesperson.

The Select Committee tabled an interim report on the three strikes legislation but the National Party broke convention by refusing to allow a minority report that pointed out problems with the Bill.

Mr Clendon considered that the Committee was running a dodgy process for a highly controversial Bill which has been significantly changed. The timeline was ridiculous with a few selected submitters being given only 10 days to resubmit and even then they would not be able to do this in person.

The Bill has been opposed by many submitters, including the Police Association, Human Rights Foundation and the New Zealand Law Society.

“This legislation won’t make anyone safer. It’s just another example of irrational punitive legislation from a populist Government that is doing nothing to reduce crime.

“The three strikes policy has not worked overseas and it will not work in New Zealand.

“What John Key’s Government should be doing is getting serious about addressing the causes of crime - especially inequality which they seem to be hell bent on making worse,” said Mr Clendon.


Further information

Metiria Turei’s first reading speech- http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/three-strikes-sentencing-and-parole-amendment-bill