Gilmore Aaron: Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGilmore Aaron: Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:13088. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): I am delighted to be able to speak in support of the Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill in this first reading debate. As other members have canvassed this bill brings in a much-needed and welcome measure by creating a new kind of restraining order that will protect victims of serious violent or sexual crimes from unwanted contact with their attackers. I think it is a very positive thing that both sides of the House are supporting this bill going to the Law and Order Committee. It is also positive that the debate this morning has been a balanced measured and constructive one.New Zealanders have an absolute right to feel safe in their homes as they enjoy life in any of the diverse and thriving communities that make up our great country. I would say to the members Ms Logie and Mr Clendon who have spoken about the difficulty of applying this to small towns in New Zealand that that right to feel safe in your home and your community applies to every community in New Zealand equally be they in the big cities the main centres the provincial towns small villages or rural hamlets.I am proud to be a member of a National team that is building a safer New Zealand. This bill is one small part of a comprehensive programme of reform that is designed to protect our communities to prevent crime and to put victims first. These measures are having real effect. We see crime rates now at a generational low—a once-in-30-years low—so I am very pleased to see this bill adding further to that progress that we are making.This bill establishes a clear and practical process to enable any victim of a violent crime—and specifically victims of offences of a sexual nature—to obtain a non-contact order against the person who attacked them. Such an order will be available in any case where the perpetrator has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of 5 years or more. I actually have to acknowledge the contribution of the honourable member Denis O’Rourke in querying whether that time frame is appropriate. I will certainly be going into the select committee hearings with an open mind on that issue and interested in hearing evidence on that particular issue.These non-contact orders will ban offenders from having any form of contact with a victim. This can be used to stop an offender from entering a specified area or from living or working in a particular place and—this is an issue that has not really been canvassed yet—the District Court will be empowered to impose any reasonable conditions or directions that it considers necessary in the individual circumstances. I think that this level of common-sense flexibility is a very positive thing. Strong sanctions will exist where there is a breach of a non-contact order with a maximum of up to 2 years’ imprisonment for repeated breaches. Again I think that this is a necessary measure because without teeth any legislative measure does not have real impact.I would like to congratulate the excellent Minister of Justice the Hon Judith Collins and her ministerial justice sector team. I look forward to considering the bill in more detail at the Justice and Electoral Committee which is so ably chaired by my esteemed colleague Scott Simpson. I commend this bill for consideration.Bill read a first time.Billreferred to the Law and Order Committee.