Mitchell Mark: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMitchell Mark: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 12 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11106. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney):I will take a call now because the last speeches from Mr Faafoi and Mr Goff are probably about as good as it will get—and that is actually a pretty sad statement to make. I was expecting a lot more than that in terms of input.I just want to address some of the issues that Mr Faafoi raised and those are in relation to whether this bill the Prohibition on Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill is going to make a significant difference to how the police police and whether or not this is going to give them additional capability. Well the answer to that very simply is yes it will. I have spoken to the House before and I would like to use an example from my electorate of Rodney—Sergeant Kellie Bissett and her team up in Wellsford who at the moment are using a cross-governmental approach and also working with the local council in trying to put as much pressure on the Headhunters gang that has set up a pad in Wellsford. I have spoken to her about this bill and she andher team are very pleased and very happy that it is progressing through the House and say that it is a tool that they will definitely use. If there is a gang member who goes into a Work and Income office or into a Government building or tries to go into a school whether a public or an integrated school it gives the police the power to go in there and effect an arrest—to arrest that gang member.Carol Beaumont: Can they do it under existing legislation?MARK MITCHELL: The Opposition says they can do it now. Well actually they cannot do it now. I spoke with Mr Faafoi and Mr Goff about this today because one of the arguments that they have put up against this bill and it is not a good argument is the fact that a chief executive officer—let us use Work and Income as an example—can issue a trespass notice against a gang member who goes into that premises. Well actually that is true but they cannot issue a blanket trespass notice to a gang. It has to be to an individual. The other thing that happens once that trespass notice is issued is that that gang member—and Mr Goff and Mr Faafoi keep making a big point about civil liberties—for the next 2 years cannot go back on to that premises.Hon Phil Goff: Did I mention civil liberties?MARK MITCHELL: Well today in our conversation we were talking about this. They cannot go back on to that premises. What this bill says is that you can go in there you can access the services like anyone else but you cannot wear a gang patch. We have spoken in this House about what a gang patch means. A gang patch means that the person wearing it has had to offend against the community. That is the only reason someone is wearing a gang patch—no other reason. You cannot go into a retail store and say: “Hey I want to get myself a Mongrel Mob gang patch or a Black Power gang patch.” The only way to achieve that is by committing crimes often violent crimes against the community. So I hope that addresses the point in relation to whether or not the police are actually going to see some value and whether or not this is another very good tool for them to have access to. The answer to that is clearly yes.For some reason Mr Goff has gone on another tirade and we witnessed that today in our Law and Order Committee. It was very disappointing I have to say to see Mr Mallard come into the committee and make a tacky attack on a deputy commissioner who is highly respected and has had a distinguished career. He had to sit in front of the select committee and have a tacky low-grade attack made on him by Mr Mallard. In relation to our police currently our police force is enjoying the highest public support it has had in years.The other point that I just want to make very quickly too is that we keep talking about this bill and whether the police are actually going to be able to use it. What I would say to that is that it is actually very very clear in the bill where this Act will be enforced. But if there is any doubt that is what we have case law for. The police are able to actually test this is in court of law and that is where the decision will be made and clarity will be taken from.The last thing I want to do is that I would just like to acknowledge Richard Prosser—I assume that he will take a call tonight—for the support for this bill and also for the very good Supplementary Order Paper 253 which has been submitted around clarifying exactly where this legislation will take effect.Richard Prosser: Mr Chair.