Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6639] 
9.  
Hon TONY RYALL (NZ National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: What reports has he received from the New Zealand Police regarding the ramifications of the passing of the Prostitution Reform Bill? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Justice) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Police 
: During the course of the debate on the Prostitution Reform Bill the New Zealand Police provided the Minister with four papers on the bill dated between April 2001 and February 2002. Those reports were all provided to the select committee. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: In the light of the concerns reportedly expressed by a Tauranga prostitute called Sabrina who predicts increased gang involvement and the likelihood of more women working as prostitutes to support hard drug habits what specific parts of the Prostitution Reform Bill will prevent gangs from becoming involved in the vice industry; particularly what will prevent the Mongrel Mob from using a front-man without convictions to set up a brothel? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: It is noteworthy that the police report to the select committee made the point that there was already extensive gang involvement in prostitution. I can table the document if the member who shakes his head wants that; I have it in front of me. I shall answer the second part of the member’s question by saying that the amendment to the bill in the name of the member for Mt Roskill sets up a certification process that excludes from operation of places of prostitution anyone with gang offences or with serious criminal convictions. I refer the member to the definition of “operator” which under the amendment not only deals with the front-person but the people who pull the strings behind the scenes. That amendment has been very welcomed by the New Zealand Police. 
Sue Bradford 
: Can the Minister assure the House and the public that there will be no more police raids arrests or prosecutions relating to soliciting or brothel-keeping offences pending the implementation very shortly of the Prostitution Reform Act. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Of course I cannot give that assurance. First I do not direct the police on operational matters and secondly it would be improper to direct the police not to enforce the law as it is until the law changes. 
Larry Baldock 
: What guarantees can the Minister give that the police will be able to keep gangs and criminals out of the brothel business—which the Minister of Justice considered to be unconscionable—given that they have not been able to keep them out of the massage parlour industry; and will he commit additional resources for the police to be able to monitor the new industry or will it be left to local government to take care of? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: It will not be left to local government. The only role that local government plays is in terms of the location of any such brothel. The assurance I can give to the member is that the legislation has been drafted quite skilfully to ensure that not only will anybody who controls a brothel as an operator be committing an illegal act but also the people with gang affiliations who stand behind that individual and there are severe penalties for it.The bill has the additional advantage that at the moment police have control only over massage parlours where half of prostitution takes place; they have no control at all for example over escort agencies. Under the new bill they do. 
Peter Brown 
: Specifically does the Minister believe that this Act will create a greater demand for police resources or a lesser demand? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I think it means that we will have a redirection of police resources away from simply dealing with soliciting—which will now be legal under the law—to actual crimes including those crimes committed against prostitutes which are often very severe and the member knows that well. Now when prostitutes are raped or seriously assaulted they will have no fear of coming forward and being charged with other offences that were prostitution-related. That must be a good thing for New Zealand. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table a report in which the president of the Police Association labels the Goff amendments as unworkable and very very naive. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Peter Brown 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked a specific question whether there would be a requirement for more police resources or less police resources. The politics in the Minister’s answer did not come anywhere near addressing that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. I thought the member addressed the question perfectly satisfactorily. In fact he gave a lengthy answer that was probably too long.