Crime—Prevention and Reduction Initiatives

Can he confirm that the crime reduction Ministers group, which, in his words, established priorities for Government action to reduce crime, last met on 23 June 2003—in the midst of youth violence up 44 percent, youth sex offending up 23 percent, and all robberies up 49 percent?

I can confirm that the work that was done by that group was then implemented and is continuing to be so. I give the member an example—the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design programme, in which 27 councils have received funding for projects, including one in Wanganui. I am surprised the member is not familiar with it. The Vehicle Crime Reduction Programme in Rotorua is a good example. The member for Rotorua has told me herself about the success—a 22.4 percent reduction as a result of that programme. The community and youth at risk programme has 40 projects funded. The sexual violence task force has a raft of initiatives under effective interventions. I do not think Madam Speaker will allow me to go on through the rest of my list.

Can the Minister confirm that Treasury has slammed the crime reduction strategy as having “no particular focus on stopping intergenerational crime or consideration of the role of early interventions in areas such as education, health, income support, and housing”; and what good is a crime reduction strategy that does not try to reduce crime?

I can confirm to the contrary that the various aspects of the crime reduction strategy are, in fact, working. As the example I gave him just a moment ago, in Rotorua there has been a 22.4 percent reduction in offences around vehicle crime in that city as a result of that particular intervention. The sexual violence task force is important work. The community and youth at risk programme has 40 projects. We have seen massive reductions as a result of the Crossroads initiative in Whakatāne—just one of those 40. There are many, many examples, and it is sad that that member is not prepared to back them and acknowledge the good work being done in our communities.

Can he confirm that one of the seven priorities under the crime reduction strategy is organised crime, and that until the shooting of Jhia Te Tua, the last paper he received relating to gangs was entitled A Stocktake on What is Known About Organised Crime, dated March 2005, before the last election?

I cannot confirm that I received that paper; I was not the Minister before the last election. However, I can confirm that this Government has done extensive work within the criminal justice system around the whole area of organised crime. It is certainly the initiatives that have been taken by this Government, despite the failed efforts of the previous National Government, that have made a positive difference, but the new initiatives will make many, many more.

Can the Minister confirm the Prime Minister’s recent statement that the Law Commission is responsible for seven bills that have recently been before the House, plus another seven bills in the pipeline; if so, can the Minister tell the House what he actually does all day?

Power Simon Power Link to this

The member should put questions on the Law Commission’s work programme to the very busy Minister responsible for the Law Commission, who, of course, is also me. So one of the things—

Then answer it.

Well, the member Chester Borrows put the question to me as Minister of Justice, but I will tell the member—

It is impossible to hear. I have had interventions to make sure that order is maintained in the House. I ask members on the National side of the House also to please do so.

Gerry Brownlee Link to this

Despite the member being confused as to whom he should address his question, I can say that it is sort of asked and answered. If he is so impressed with the workload of the Law Commission, he should understand that as the responsible Minister I am directly involved in the creation of that work programme and the management of it.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is appalling if you allow that to stand as an answer. It addressed the question, but to simply try to confuse ministries and defuse an answer that way is trifling with the House.

I should have enforced the Standing Orders and said the question was out of order, because it was not addressed to the Minister in his capacity under that ministerial responsibility, and that is what is required. However, I thought the House might wish the question to be addressed, and the Minister was pleased to do so.

I seek leave to table the Minister’s answer to a written question that shows that the crime reduction—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Minister’s answer to a written question that shows the last paper he received—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Minister’s answer to a written question that shows youth offending—

Mallard Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

Well, they don’t want to have private—

If that member wishes to stay in the House he will not interject during points of order.

I seek leave to table three documents: the recommendation of the 2004 Safer Communities Action Plan to Reduce Community Violence and Sexual Violence to establish inter-agency—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table a paper to the Minister of Justice stating they had failed to get funding for the original inter-agency group—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the announcement 3 years later of the establishment of an inter-agency group on sexual violence.

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table two documents: the recommendation for the 2004 Safer Communities Action Plan—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Minister’s announcement 3 years later explaining—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table a quotation from the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Lianne Dalziel last year, stating that the Government has taken its eye off the ball—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Treasury report that slams the crime reduction strategy as having no—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Ministry of Justice’s advice to the Minister’s office that states: “There is no Government funding”—

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

I seek leave to table the Prime Minister’s recent statement that the Law Commission—

Mark Ron Mark Link to this

Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.

Could the measure of the Minister’s success in long-term crime reduction initiatives be well portrayed by the fact that serious youth offending—that is offending by 14 to 16-year-olds—is up 39 percent, almost 40 percent, and that latest statistics show that of all apprehensions nationwide, 43 percent of them are of young people aged 10 years to 20 years of age; is that the measure of success in his crime reduction initiatives?