Crimes Amendment Bill, Local Government Amendment Bill, Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3)

John Key’s National-led Government is principled, pragmatic, and inclusive. During last year’s election campaign we made promises about what we would do, should we be privileged to form the Government.

💬 Hon Member: And we made them in our own name.

That is a very good point. We have that privilege, and we are keeping our promises. We are working—a concept alien to others in the House—to find a solution to multiple challenges that have accumulated after years and years of ineptitude from an administration bereft of ideas, where creativity was a distant dream and the concept of action a barely recoverable memory from a cobwebbed cerebral closet, where the default position was inaction, apart from the occasional languid wave from a legislative limp wrist, a limp wrist on a leaden hand, a leaden hand that stifled innovation and fresh thinking and formed a cloying embrace from a nanny seduced by the conviction that consideration of process equated action.

Not surprising, after year after year of this muddled mugwumpery, when National formed a Government we found there was much to do. There was much to do in all portfolios, and much to do in law and order.

National’s principled, pragmatic approach, which is focused on finding solutions, has led to a comprehensive quiver of measures to fight the scourge of crime, gangs, and drugs. Measures to date include the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act and the Sentencing Act, and they are supported by the Search and Surveillance Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill. A significant weapon in the quiver is the gangs and organised crime legislation. It is thoughtful legislation.

We do not have a magic wand and we cannot change things overnight, but we are committed to making a difference. Gangs are a complex problem that requires reshaping of the mesh in a number of areas and at different levels. This legislation will hit participation in gangs, allow police to gain intelligence on gang activities by increased surveillance, and remove the ability of gangs to cower and hide behind high walls and fortifications. I commend the legislation to the House.