JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) : I will take a short call on this bill. I would like to make a couple of comments on the speeches that I have heard this evening. I find it rather ironic that Metiria Turei has just said that this bill is a serious attack on the citizens of New Zealand. I remind her that a far greater attack on the citizens of New Zealand is the Electoral Finance Act, which was repealed earlier this evening. There can be no greater attack on the people of New Zealand than restricting their right to speak out and to criticise, and to campaign against their Government. I was also interested in the comments of Lianne Dalziel earlier this evening. I am not sure whether she understands ACT’s “three strikes” rule or whether she is deliberately trying to mislead fellow members and members of the public.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen: That’s your industrial relations policy.
JOHN BOSCAWEN: Let me explain to the Hon Dr Cullen and Lianne Dalziel and her colleagues. Let me explain to them about ACT’s “three strikes” bill. The most important thing to highlight—
Hon Steve Chadwick: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is not the “three strikes” bill. I thought we were speaking on the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill.
JOHN BOSCAWEN: Speaking to the point of order, I point out that Lianne Dalziel made references to, and criticisms of, ACT’s “three strikes” proposal and I am addressing those.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is not a debating point. Continue with your speech.
JOHN BOSCAWEN: Let me explain to Lianne Dalziel that the “three strikes” proposal that ACT is putting forward in the bill coming before the House tomorrow relates only to serious violent crime. We are not talking petty shoplifting, graffiti, or vandalism; we are talking about serious violent crime. We are talking about people who commit murder, rape, and manslaughter. We are talking about people who go into a bank armed with a gun and try to steal and inflict pain on people. Ms Dalziel may wish to misrepresent the bill to the public, and she may try to misrepresent the position of the ACT Party, but I want to correct her on that.
I notice also that Lynne Pillay talked about criminals needing to know the consequences of their actions. Criminals need to know that their actions have consequences. One of the consequences of implementing ACT’s proposals on “three strikes” is that when criminals are convicted and sentenced on their second serious violent crime, they will be advised by the judge that if they come back before the court and are convicted of a third serious violent crime they will be sent away for 25 years to life.
Finally, let me come back to Metiria Turei’s point. She talked about the victims of the legislation before the House right now. Well, I would like to talk about the beneficiaries. Who will actually benefit from passing laws that catch and punish criminals and try to prevent crime? They are the people of New Zealand, and in particular, I say to Metiria Turei, they are the poorest people in our society. They are the people who cannot afford to put fences around their properties or have security patrols. I and the ACT Party will be supporting this bill.