Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): It is a privilege to take a call on the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) (Definition of Significant Criminal Activity) Amendment Bill first reading in the name of Nicole McKee from the ACT Party. It is a privilege to support such an important piece of legislation through its first reading and I hope to select committee but that does not seem to be the way it will go with this Government that is in charge.This is an important piece of legislation because it sends a very clear message that being a criminal gang member will not pay in New Zealand. We heard it from the other side: crime shouldn't pay. But they're going to vote against the bill. Crime shouldn't pay but now they're voting against the bill which will make sure that crime doesn't pay in New Zealand.It's a very very simple principle in this piece of legislation: if the police turn up to a property and they find a gang member with an illegal firearm they are able to take that gang member's assets. I'm sick and tired of hearing people apologising for gang members in New Zealand. The apologising for gang members that's come from the members on the other side and the Green Party up in the far corner is actually quite disgusting. We live in a country which has become overridden with gang members under this Government. There have been more gang members recruited under this Government than police officers. It's grown faster the number of gang members than police officers but all we hear is apologies—apologies for the gang members. And when they stop apologising the next thing they start doing is actually funding the gangs. They take the money using the proceeds of crime fund and then they start giving it back to the gangs. That is absolutely disgusting.But what the criminal proceeds of crime fund—the legislation which this bill amends is about saying Crime shouldn't pay and we will take your assets and then we will put it to crime prevention and actually keeping New Zealanders safe." This Government says "We're going to take some money off the Hawke's Bay Mongrel Mob and then we're going to give it back with interest." They literally gave back twice as much as they took in the first place. That's how this Government operates and quite frankly New Zealanders have had enough. The poll results say "Enough." Seventy percent of New Zealanders think the police Minister is soft on crime—70 percent. That is an embarrassing number for the police Minister. Fifty percent of Labour supporters think the police Minister's soft on crime. That is absolutely embarrassing.Hon Stuart Nash: Speak to the bill.SIMEON BROWN: So what this Government should be doing is supporting legislation which actually does make a difference Mr Stuart Nash. Actually making a difference to actually give the police the tools they need to go hard against the gangs—[Multiple members interject]ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order!SIMEON BROWN: —take the assets off them and actually make sure that crime doesn't pay in New Zealand. I heard the previous speaker say that gangs are just a fraternity. They're not the Rotary club for goodness' sake. These people are shooting people killing people.Hon Member: They play tiddlywinks.SIMEON BROWN: They're not—well these guys are playing tiddlywinks with the gangs. The gangs have got this Government wrapped round their little finger and it shows every single day. It's quite disgusting.Then you've got the Green Party saying "Oh we've got too many police in New Zealand." They want to defund the police. Well what they'll do is the next piece of legislation will say "defunding the police in New Zealand". Absolutely disgusting. What we need to be doing in New Zealand is actually supporting our police giving them tools that they need like the tool in this bill which is an excellent tool which actually gives them tools to go after the gangs and go after their assets. That is exactly what this piece of legislation will do.So I'm very grateful that the member from the ACT Party Nicole McKee who is an outstanding advocate around law and order and justice issues is bringing legislation to this House. Legislation which should at least be sent to a select committee. They crow about firearm prohibition orders. They've had 4½ years. What have they done? Four and a half years what have they done? Minister Stuart Nash you were told in 2017 in your briefing to the incoming Minister that came on your desk we need firearms prohibition orders and nothing happened while you were Minister of Police—nothing happened. And now you're trying to complain from the sidelines. Chirp chirp chirp from the sidelines. Nothing happened while you were the Minister of Police. What a fail—what a fail. Well the people of Napier will have a thing or two to say about that next year won't they?And so what we need is legislation which will make a difference. The ACT Party's brought legislation. National's bringing legislation. We've got a plan to tackle gangs in New Zealand. But this soft on crime Government is embarrassing and next year they'll be gone."