Mark Ron: Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill — First Reading 
Mark Ron: Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:630;Page:2335] 
RON MARK (NZ First) 
: 
 I am absolutely astounded that two of the people in this House who pride themselves on achieving academic accolades on being able to be inclusive and consult people and on seeking other views and who pride themselves in debate should show such high levels of intolerance and reject outright that this bill should be debated by the public in a select committee. I am disappointed in Dr Pita Sharples. One does not have to be brown grow long hair and have tattoos to understand that our Maori people are heavily engaged in crime. I may not have some of Dr Sharples’ attributes but my family too are as heavily engaged in crime. One of the reasons I am concerned about youth crime is because of my background as a ward of the State growing up in a welfare system with I would guess something like 50 percent if not more of my whanaunga my immediate family having ended up in prison. What a disaster. 
I do not disagree with one word Dr Sharples has said about the appalling failures in the Department of Corrections but where was he when its members were running riot with the “goon squad”? There is silence. I Ron Mark fought that issue brought it to the House and created a situation that led to the Duffy investigation ably assisted by Mr Connell and other members who are no longer in this House. Do not presume that we do not share Mr Sharples’ concerns for the things of which he speaks but please give us the opportunity to discuss these issues in a select committee which is something he has ruled absolutely out of hand. As my whanaunga I tell him that I am disappointed in his decision. 
How dare members of the Green Party stand up and tell us what is right and wrong in the youth justice system while advocating that everyone should be able to smoke marijuana. One of that party has shareholdings in a company that sells party drugs. Let us talk about youth crime and its causes the tragedy of wasted human capital and the tragedy of the waste of human lives but do not dare stand in this House and be so pious and preach to me about how their views are more substantive and more worthy than mine. Walk in my shoes with my whanaunga see the damage that marijuana causes and then come and talk to me. 
I do not have to argue the need for this bill. Members can pick up any newspaper and read about an 8-year-old knife-wielding burglar locked up by Child Youth and Family Services. The boy knew that the police were powerless to charge him for his criminal offences. This is not knee-jerk this was not yesterday this is not today; this was in August last year. Talk to me about a young man out of control in Masterton who drove his car at speeds of 100 kilometres an hour through busy populated streets where men women and children were walking. He did this not once not twice but dozens of time and laughed at the police because they can do nothing with him. Do not talk to me about what the law can deliver. We know that a person under the age of 14 has to kill someone in order to be held to account. We know that to bash a woman with a hammer to render her immobile for the rest of her life and to cause serious brain damage that will prevent her from nurturing and caring for her children can go unpunished. There is no law that brings that young man to court and members dare to tell me that they care more. We all care in this House. That is why we are here. The only one thing we can guarantee the people of this nation is that we will debate these issues. We will let victims and offenders jointly come to the select committee and air their views and then we will make a considered decision. But for that considered decision to occur we must all vote this bill to select committee and I beg each and every party in this House to do that now.