Horan Brendan: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHoran Brendan: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 15 May 2013. Volume:690;Page:9976. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]BRENDAN HORAN (Independent): This Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill reflects three truths: one the economic policies of the National Government are a failure; two those policies have led society to fail; and three that National over the last year or so has realised that looking tough on crime but weak on the causes of crime is a recipe for disaster. I see Mr Mitchell laughing away over there. I have got to say that I was bemused by that honourable member’s speech when he talked about the first time he saw gang members being when he was a dog handler. Well it takes 5 years to be dog handler so I wonder what that member was doing for those 4¾ years until he saw a patched gang member—unbelievable.But let me expand. If National had been delivering effective and successful economic policies we would have decent jobs for every man and woman who wanted to work. People would be able to do a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. They would learn the discipline and dignity of work. They would be able to raise their families in a dignified and well manner. But National’s policies rely on making a few people better off. Look at the chief executive officers of the banks who earn $5000 extra a week thanks to National’s tax cuts which the rest of this country has to pay for. Look at the Mighty River Power debacle where less than 2 percent of New Zealanders are able to buy back what we already own. Meanwhile we have 142000 New Zealanders out of work without the discipline or dignity of a job. Every week we come in here and we listen to that side of the House sprouting on about ghost jobs because as they say in the provinces: “We can’t work your ghost jobs bro.”I am interested to see tomorrow’s Budget because in last year’s Budget there we had the Hon Bill English talking about—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Order! We are on a bill that is talking about gang insignia and I ask the member to come back to the contents of the bill.BRENDAN HORAN: I am getting there because what I am talking about is when is this Government going to stand up for children? In the Māori Affairs Committee we are doing a study on children. What is really appalling is that we look for aspiration in families. What we are seeing is that many children in towns such as Kawerau aspire to become a patched gang member. Something is seriously wrong with society when we have children in New Zealand aspiring to become patched gang members. This bill does not go anywhere near far enough.On Sunday I was at Kawerau. I was watching children play sport. My own son and daughter were playing rugby league. Some who want to be gang members came up to me and they were screaming out for these children to hurt each other on the rugby field. Unlike some of those members over there when I see something wrong I stand up and say it. I said: “Shut up. How dare you come down here.” And then they wanted to heavy me out. It was quite funny really. They threatened to get their patched father to come and see to me so I said “Well go and get your patched father.”Mark Mitchell: And then you woke up.BRENDAN HORAN: This actually happened. I tell you what I was struggling to wake myself up after hearing that member’s speech. You have got to work on your tonality a little bit.I am prepared to stand up for children as people on this side of the House are prepared to stand up for children but what is that side doing for the children of New Zealand? I heard the honourable Todd McClay say that crime was down. Well to that I say “Rubbish!”. Solved crime is down police numbers and support is down and police morale is down—it is at an all-time low. We have police officers leaving New Zealandhand over foot. There were 45 from Auckland alone last month. We have got police officers going to the Northern Territory. We have got them going to Queensland and Western Australia. We even have police officers working in security here—there are four of them. So who is going to enforce this law? I would say to these people on that side of the House to get out into the suburbs and get out into the provinces and see what is really happening.I am going to support this bill but I am going to support it because it is only a start. I would say to the honourable Todd McClay to go down—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch): Sorry to interrupt the honourable member. His time has expired.