Pillay Lynne: Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Pillay Lynne: Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:662;Page:10497] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour) 
: 
 On behalf of the Labour Opposition I stand to add my comments to those of Clayton Cosgrove who spoke previously that we support the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill. I will talk briefly about the purpose of the bill and give some history. 
The original bill was introduced by the Labour Government in 2004 and came into effect in 2005. It regulated the awarding of compensation to prisoners for breaches of their rights. The Act also provided a regime whereby victims of compensated prisoners can claim for damages payment for which would come out of the prisoners’ compensation awarded. When Labour brought the bill forward it was done as a matter of justice so that victims of crime would get some redress. 
We are supporting effectively a roll-over or an extension of 2 years of the application of this Act. The Government has said that it will be introducing a second prisoners’ and victims’ claims amendment bill later this year. Certainly we see this amendment bill as a minor technical change. The Government will have no opposition from this side of the House to legislation that will improve services and support to victims. 
My friend Chester Borrows who spoke previously began very well by commending the Justice and Electoral Committee and I think that was a very sensible thing to do because the committee is hard-working. But I was very very disappointed in Chester Borrows—I did not take offence at his comments because I do not think there was any malice intended—when he talked about the accident compensation scheme maybe not being the appropriate vehicle for compensation for victims of sexual assault. That may not be the case but that is the system we have in place. That is the system whereby victims of sexual assault and serious crime receive the counselling they need and deserve. It is the only and currently the appropriate way for those victims to receive counselling. Chester Borrows simply did not understand that. But I will not stand in this House and blame him. Do members know why? It is because the Minister for ACC does not get it either. 
The Minister for ACC despite the advice he is given does not understand the reality for victims of sexual assault in New Zealand as it is at the moment. Despite professionals psychotherapists counsellors and survivors of sexual assault writing to the Minister this unfortunate experiment that is happening as Chester Borrows spoke of previously is not providing victims with the support they need and deserve. That is a very very serious situation. I know that the other two speakers before me have made considerable comments on that point and I feel it is appropriate given Chester Borrows’ statements that I clarify to the House that that is certainly not the situation. The cutting of services and support provided by accident compensation has been absolutely dreadful. Although the intention was to save the Accident Compensation Corporation money in terms of providing counselling services the human cost is absolutely immeasurable. 
I commend Simon Power for some of the work he is doing for victims’ rights but I urge the Minister to talk to Nick Smith and explain the situation to him—in fact I suggest that they have a caucus session on it. Clearly Chester Borrows who is a well-meaning member who has been very committed in terms of the Justice and Electoral Committee does not understand. I can see that there is clearly a big communication dysfunction within the National caucus. Perhaps if that was cleared then we would not have the sad situation that we see for victims of— 
Simon Bridges 
: No problems in your caucus! 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I will not respond to that joke at the moment. I do not think this is a joking matter. 
Simon Bridges 
: You were just being sarcastic about— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The member cannot bring the Speaker into the debate. 
Simon Bridges 
: The member was just being sarcastic about this side of the House. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: In terms of the challenge that I am being sarcastic I am merely speaking the truth. The truth is that going from 300 to 400 cases a month down to six cases receiving the support they need and deserve is a travesty; it is an absolute travesty. That member needs to take note of what is happening and needs to raise the issue in his caucus as indeed I hope that Simon Power the Minister of Justice will. 
I want to move on and talk about some of the other issues for victims of crime in this country. The previous Labour Government passed the Sentencing Act which went quite a considerable way in terms of victims’ rights. In respect of restorative justice the Labour Government passed the Victims’ Rights Act in 2002 which gave victims the right to information and the ability to have input into sentencing decisions. That went a long way towards providing more support for the victims of crime in our country. As we know the aim of the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 was to ensure that victims of inmates could claim against any compensation that those inmates were awarded. I look forward to further improvements to what has already been put in place being brought into this House as the Government has said it will do. 
Also very important in terms of victims’ rights we can look at the introduction of the Victims Charter in February 2008. That was developed so that victims would be aware of the services and support that were available to them. At this time I acknowledge all the good work that many agencies throughout New Zealand do for victims including Women’s Refuge Victim Support and those who operate the 0800 line that was introduced under the previous Labour Government which gave more support to victims. More funding was also introduced by Labour to support victims of domestic violence through the processes of the Family Court. There was also the introduction of independent victim support advocates who provide support for victims of domestic violence. 
Although we have seen some progress on victims’ rights and I acknowledge that it is very sad—as many people in women’s refuge organisations have said—that we still have a very good bill dealing with domestic violence victims’ rights languishing on the Order Paper. Why? It is because it is a Labour bill. I ask this House to consider putting aside party politics and to look at what is best for victims. I take this opportunity if I may to request that the Government give very careful consideration to moving that bill forward on the Order Paper so that real improvements are made with regard to victims’ rights and there is more support for victims of domestic violence. 
As I said before there will not be any opposition to this bill from Labour members. Indeed any bill that provides support or services for victims has our support. But I would also say that it is a pity that the Minister for ACC does not have in his mind the same principle of supporting people who are victims and survivors of serious sexual assault. Thank you.