Ngaro Alfred: Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:13080. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National): Kia orana Mr Assistant Speaker.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Kia orana andmeitaki.ALFRED NGARO:Meitakimaata Mr Assistant Speaker. I rise to take a call on the Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill in its first reading. I am concerned about the member David Clendon because what I continue to hear what we continue to hear but what New Zealanders need to know and understand is that the Greens are continually looking at and focusing on the rehabilitation and the rights of the offenders as opposed to those of the victims. The National Party is focused on ensuring that balancing the rights and responsibilities for the victims is clearly paramount for us. What we have heard continually from the Greens—in particular Mr Clendon—is about rehabilitation. We have no problem with that. In fact the honourable Minister of Corrections the Hon Anne Tolley has actually sought out a regime of rehabilitation that is proving successful now.However this particular bill is dealing with serious offenders and in this case it irks me—and I think the rest of New Zealand should understand this—that what the Greens are saying is that we should look at the rights of the offender let us look at their freedom to move and to be able to rehabilitate themselves into those communities which are the very communities in which they have caused harm and concern and where they have caused trauma and tragedy for family and for victims. In particular as the honourable member Lianne Dalziel said when we see victims of rape and of crime and offending of a sexual nature it appals everyone—it appals everyone. But what continues to I suppose offend some of us here is that the Greens continue to say that the rights of the offenders should be put forward ahead of the rights of the victims. That is not what we are about; we are about ensuring that this bill ensures that the rights of the victims are upheld. It is unacceptable to have a situation where a victim of serious crime may have unwanted contact with an attacker.In reading the regulatory impact statement there was some comment by the honourable member Lianne Dalziel about three community law centres and the consultation that was had with two victims’ representatives and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Again the intent is that this is a very focused piece of legislation in a suite of other forms of legislation that this Government is undertaking. It is focused in particular on victims of violent sexual crime—that is here. Therefore it was important that we go particularly to those who have specialty experience and knowledge around this.It is fair to say that the respondents were not totally in agreement. However what they were in agreement on is that the status quo is not adequate—hence the reason for the change. In fact arguments against introducing a new regime and a new order included that it would breach a person’s right to freedom. However according to the regulatory impact statement: “Two responders indicated clear support for the introduction of a new order stating that it would provide victims with an element of certainty and may help to reduce the levels of anxiety victims experience when their offender is released.” This is clear evidence. The fact is that the transition of this bill to its first reading and to the Law and Order Committee absolutely follows the process where submissions can be heard in a wider form of being able to be informed about how we can transform this bill. But I make it very clear from this side that we are very clear that this bill ensures that victims can no longer feel intimidated by an offender moving into their local area near their home or their workplace.Finally I just want to say that when people talk about the context of what we are doing this is not a lazy piece of legislation. This is not legislation that is taken lightly atall. In fact in the suite of things can I also state the fact that this is what is happening right up and down the country. We are seeing that New Zealand crime rates are the lowest on record. The fiscal year crime statistics released today show that recorded crime is continuing to drop with a 5.2 percent decrease on the previous year. Deputy Police CommissionerViv Rickard’scomments were that “These figures indicate that New Zealand is becoming a safer place to live. They will act as further motivation to keep our focus firmly on preventing crime before it happens.” That is the best form of rehabilitation that we are taking.However in saying that we do see its importance because sexual assaults and related offences have increased by 3.6 percent. Sexual offending is known to be significantly under-reported so it is difficult to know to what extent this increase is a result of increased reporting rather than increased offending. Hence understanding this is the reason why this bill going through its first reading and then going to the select committee so that it can hear submissions is absolutely important. It is timely. The bill is not lazy; it is intentional. It balances the rights of victims. I commend this bill in its first reading and to go to the select committee. I commend this bill to the House.