Pillay Lynne: Standing Orders—Suspension 
Pillay Lynne: Standing Orders—Suspension 
[Volume:673;Page:19663] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour) 
: 
 Along with my colleagues I am happy to stand and speak in support of this motion. The Courts and Criminal Matters Bill is certainly non-controversial and in fact the motion allows it to amend a number of Acts that were not included in the original Courts and Criminal Matters Bill as it was introduced. They include the Crimes Act 1961 Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 Disputes Tribunals Act 1988 Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 1978 and Residential Tenancies Act 1986. I think it would be fair to say that this bill is a tidy-up.  
I can certainly see the Minister for Courts looking extremely interested in this bill at this point in time and very appreciative that it is being passed. I might even say that she is really listening with bated breath. I heard the Hon Rick Barker speaking before and my colleagues Charles Chauvel Carol Beaumont and Carmel— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: The full team. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The full team. The full muster. The full group was here to acknowledge this bill. 
Sue Moroney 
: What about Carmel’s second name? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Carmel Sepuloni. The whole lot were down here because they saw it was very important to acknowledge just how important this bill is.  
I would like to talk specifically about Rick Barker and about how committed he was. It was under his watch as the then Minister for Courts that much of this work was done and I think the current Minister would be the first to acknowledge that. I know that Rick Barker put in a lot of work. He is a very very hard-working member of our caucus and a thoroughly decent guy who just happens to be the chief whip. 
Hon Simon Power 
: That’s true. That’s true. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: That is right. That is right. He was really committed. He was very committed to improving the justice system in regard to this issue. I can see Simon Power over there nodding enthusiastically. Members should look at that head going. 
Hon Members 
: The honourable. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The Hon Simon Power. In fact on many occasions he did not share the same enthusiasm for some of the bills on criminal matters that have been before this House like the “three strikes and you’re out” legislation and those sorts of things. I can see a wry smile on his face now.  
But there is no dissension on this bill; it is very common sense. As my colleagues Carmel Sepuloni and Carol Beaumont said it is a pity that these things take a while to go through. The Government rushes through all sorts of legislation that slashes workers’ rights and makes people’s lives really really miserable whereas something as common sense as this bill— 
Jo Goodhew 
: And the relevance? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I was just making a little reference there not straying from the bill. This bill has taken quite some time— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Far too long. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: —far too long some would say—to come to the House. It is sensible.  
The changes to the driver licence stop orders are really one of the key parts of this bill. We all know as other speakers have said before me that penalties and fines may continue to grow until a point is reached where it becomes impossible for people—often predominantly young people—to meet their obligations or they feel that it is impossible to meet their obligations. So it is really really important to be able to come in at that level of fine before things are unattainable and before—let us use young people as an example—it is impossible for young people to pay their fines. I guess it might sound a bit tough but stopping people from driving is a short sharp lesson. Indeed if it comes to the worst action then impounding their car for 28 days will certainly be an incentive to pay their fine.  
If you will bear with me Mr Assistant Speaker Robertson—I do not think I am getting away from the bill—I heard Carol Beaumont talk about debt and loan sharks and the work in that area. If young people were able to borrow money at a reasonable rate from reputable organisations then they could look towards paying that fine or indeed enter into time-payment arrangements. If they have mounting debt and get into a state of panic then go to a loan shark and pay exorbitant interest it compounds the problems that happen in relation to fines and infringements. I am sure that members can see that there is a connection there.  
I think that it is very good that this bill which will go through will tidy the legislation up. Certainly in terms of— 
Jo Goodhew 
: It’s a procedural motion. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I should say that this amendment is going through thank you very much.  
I wanted to talk about some of the important points from the Law and Order Committee and my extensive notes refer to them. The committee went through how a warning notice of a driver licence stop order is actually served and that is quite important. I was not on the select committee but my colleague was and I think it was something that the committee spent quite a bit of time on and it came up with some really sensible recommendations. It was a reorganisation but without changing what would be required. It ensures that driver licence stop orders are brought to the defendant’s notice. That can be done in a number of ways either directly which is probably the preferred way or by an enforcement officer or agent leaving it at the place of residence as long as it is handed over to somebody who appears not to be a young person who is over the age of 14 years—[ 
Interruption 
]—thank you and peace to you too Mr Assistant Speaker Robertson— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member has 2 minutes. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: —certainly to ensure that it gets handed over. Also the issue of leaving the order with another person at their residence or their workplace is something that the select committee would have put some time into considering. If a defendant cannot be found at his or her home then why not go to the workplace? It is a common-sense arrangement. It is common sense because at the end of the day this is about getting in there early and getting to the problem— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Nipping it in the bud. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: —and nipping it in the bud. That is the sort of comment I would expect from a former nurse. That can then set the young person on the right track with the proviso that if they do not behave they will have their car impounded. That is a pretty serious matter and if the order is served at their workplace it is a bit of a reminder that they do not have their car and there is also the embarrassment. They will just want to get the problem solved.  
I could speak on this motion for a lot longer but sadly I think I am nearly coming out of time. 
Carmel Sepuloni 
: Coming out of time or running out of time? 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I am coming out of time—my year of retirement—but I am not talking about me; this is about the bill. It is common sense and as others have said it would be a lot nicer if there were more bills before this House that we could agree on but sadly there are so many that are very distressing and serve no justice. In fact they are quite the opposite of that in terms of this Parliament our communities and our nation. Thank you very much.