Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): Mr Assistant Speaker I do seek your indulgence while I attempt to make a comparison of the consequences of using explosives for the committing of a crime. This bill did remind me of a significant explosion event that happened quite some time ago if you:Remember remember!The fifth of NovemberThe Gunpowder treason and plot;I know of no reasonWhy the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!So we do not forget this example of the use of explosives for the purpose of committing a crime. Even though it happened in 1605 412 years ago it is emblazoned in the night sky every year on 5 November. However it may not be well-known that the ringleader in this crime Mr Guy Fawkes was one of 13 conspirators in the crime of using explosives to commit a crime—as is mentioned in the amendment bill before us tonight. But because poor old Mr Fawkes was the one who was foiled in his attempt he was found by the King's guard and imprisoned and was tortured for several days until he confessed to the crime and dobbed in his comrades.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): OK the member is now 30 percent of the way into her speech. I would like her to now start speaking to the bill.MAUREEN PUGH: I was just about there Mr Assistant Speaker.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Well I am very pleased. You showed no sign of it.MAUREEN PUGH: Now to relate to the consequences the traditional penalty for traitors in the 17th century was to be hanged from the gallows then hung drawn and quartered. However Mr Fawkes did not do that because he took things into his own hands and leapt off the gallows and broke his own neck. However the consequences today fall well short of those and all we are looking to do is increase the penalty for the use of explosives from 2 years to 5 years.Individuals who carry dangerous weapons can look forward to longer prison terms than they would if they were supplying explosives for the committing of a crime and explosives can have much more dire consequences such as the intention of destroying people or property. This is an anomaly that needs addressing and thanks to my colleague Alastair Scott we can look forward to these harsher penalties. It makes absolutely perfectly good sense when the consequences of using explosives are so extreme and they cause immeasurable harm to innocent bystanders and of course disastrous consequences and damage to property.National has an impressive track record not just on toughening sentencing laws but also on putting the victims of crime at the forefront of our thinking by investing in our Safer Communities package and putting more law enforcement on the ground—880 new police on the front line with 245 more—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): When I stand up the member sits down. That is one of the rules of the place. For members on both sides when they have got on to things that sounded like research unit notes in one case I terminated the call and in the other I asked the member to come back to the bill. I am going to do the same for the member now and ask her to speak to the bill.MAUREEN PUGH: We are back to talking about the clauses in the bill. I would like to refer to clause 4 which sets out that the purpose of this bill is to increase the maximum penalty from 2 years' to 5 years' imprisonment for the use and supply of explosives for the commitment of a crime.I commend my colleague Alastair Scott for his initiative in having this bill put into the ballot and for his good fortune in having the bill drawn from the ballot. So that is divine intervention in making sure that we address these issues that are of importance to our communities. I commend this bill to the House.