Dyson Ruth: Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Dyson Ruth: Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:617;Page:12677] 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister of Women's Affairs) 
: 
 I would like to begin by giving a very strong commendation for the work of my friend and colleague Dianne Yates from Waikato who has spent many hours preparing this legislation and who has also worked to ensure that the wider community is onside with it. She has had very strong support from the police and other organisations for the introduction of this bill. I was a bit disappointed to hear the contribution of Mr Alexander who has just resumed his seat because I assumed that this bill would receive support from United Future to go to the select committee. Perhaps United Future might reconsider before the time comes for a vote. Even though it is clear that the recently introduced Government legislation supersedes this bill in some areas from my point of view this is in the same way as much other legislation. 
One of the most important things we can do as a Parliament is send a very strong and clear message to the public of New Zealand—to the citizens whom we are elected to represent—that drug rape like all other instances of rape is totally unacceptable to every member of this House. It was a real pleasure for me to hear Judith Collins from the National Party Barbara Stewart from New Zealand First and Sue Bradford from the Greens stand up and say that. 
Stephen Franks 
: Empty words! Why doesn’t the Government keep them in prison? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Why Stephen Franks does not say that is frankly beyond me. Why ACT does not want to send a message saying that rape is unacceptable is a puzzle. I urge Marc Alexander—because I know that his heart is with this and his head as well—to reconsider so that we can be more united and can send a very strong message to the public that party politics aside we all agree with the exception of ACT on the intent of this bill. 
The other important point to remember in recognising the work of a member on the introduction of a member’s bill is that sometimes the member has worked in a way that shows more community support and understanding of an issue in that bill than on a bill that has been prepared through ordinary Government processes. I am sure that the people who have worked so hard with Dianne Yates will be very proud to see their work being recognised and considered by the select committee as well. It seems to be an opportunity for the select committee to focus in particular on what is fortunately a new and I hope very temporary issue in New Zealand society. Barbara Stewart alluded to the fact that drug rape is now an international occurrence. It beggars belief does it not that two decades ago we would not have been discussing this at all in the House. It is an opportunity for the committee to focus on a more narrow issue with more concentration—and again reinforce our rejection of drug-facilitated rape—than would be possible if we looked only at the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2). I am delighted that the Government picked up the intention of this member’s bill because at the time of the introduction of the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) we were not at all sure for how long members’ bills would be debated and whether this bill would get to the Order Paper in time. 
I wish I was on the select committee because I think that it will hear some very interesting submissions and will develop some law that will probably put us at the forefront of international legislation and offer far more protection primarily to women but to men as well in these vulnerable situations. As I said I am very pleased that this bill has such widespread support across the House. I urge its speedy and thorough consideration by the select committee and I commend its progress.