Macindoe Tim: Children Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Macindoe Tim: Children Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:660;Page:8798] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I welcome the Children Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill back to the House because the simple reality is that the status quo is not working. Current measures are letting our young people down and our whole society is paying a very heavy price for the inadequate provisions we have at the moment. I acknowledge the members who worked on the Social Services Committee on this bill. It has been obvious in the House tonight that we had some vigorous debates and we are still quite some distance apart. Nevertheless the issue had a very good airing. I particularly acknowledge the submitters who also brought different viewpoints. But it all assisted us to come to a clearer understanding of the major challenge we face and all of us of course were motivated by the common desire to turn troubled young lives round. I acknowledge the excellent work of the officials who guided our progress. 
It is very disappointing to hear the efforts of members opposite who are belittling the work of the Minister and the real purpose behind this bill. It is worth remembering that New Zealanders voted overwhelmingly for measures of this kind at the last election because they know just how serious this problem is. It is disappointing to note the lack of focus of Opposition members on the breadth and comprehensiveness of the package and their relentless determination to dismiss the bill with cheap slogans and irrelevant discussion of what it is not about. 
Let us remind ourselves of what the bill is focusing on. Whether or not we like it we have a worrying number of young people who are out of control. They are a risk to themselves and to those around them. There are many reasons for that and it is a tragedy to see the increasingly youthful appearance of juvenile offenders. But we cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not happening. It is and in berating the Government for tackling the issue members opposite have chosen to look the other way and to ridicule the efforts of those who are determined to tackle the problem. 
The evidence that we need this bill is found on street corners the length and breadth of this country. The co-leader of the Green Party was determined to dwell in a naive and discredited mindset that puts all the blame for our nation’s crimes and social ills on everything and everyone but criminals and the socially disaffected. Of course there are serious problems that knock many of our young people off course. Of course life has dealt many of them a cruel blow from the outset. But we will never help them to turn their lives around if we blame all their offending on the system and absolve them of responsibility for their actions. Of course we must provide significant support for our troubled youngsters and intervene when they are hurtling off the rails. That is exactly what this bill is all about. As my excellent colleague Chester Borrows emphasised the crucial thing is to do so comprehensively and in a timely fashion. 
By strengthening and expanding the orders available to Youth Courts we will open up a raft of vital measures. These include parenting education mentoring and drug and alcohol treatment programmes which are not sufficiently available through existing Family Court policies yet are desperately needed if life-changing interventions are to occur. Contrary to the claims of members opposite this significant change is based on compelling evidence. For a start we know that what we have now simply is not working. Many of the 12 and 13-year-olds who are being drawn steadily into youth offending have problems with substance abuse. If we do not give the courts the power to confront that reality we will not only be wasting their time and the taxpayers’ money but more worryingly be dooming any intervention to failure. 
There is clear evidence that access to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes which assist in getting young offenders off the booze the dope and the P make a difference and there is even clearer evidence that a lack of such programmes is often fatal. This bill is aimed at the 1000 worst young offenders and contains three major reforms. These have been well canvassed by previous speakers. I commend this bill to the House. We must throw our efforts wholeheartedly behind this bill. Then we will start to see real improvements for the youth of our country.