9. Question No. 9—JusticePAULO GARCIA (National—New Lynn) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 9—Justice9. PAULO GARCIA (National—New Lynn) to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has the Government made about restoring law and order?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister of Justice): On Sunday the Government announced a raft of measures aimed at addressing harm caused by gangs. Gangs' insignia will be banned from public display gang gatherings will be disrupted by police-issued dispersal notices gang associates separated by court-issued non-consorting orders and finally we're giving greater weight to gang membership as an aggravating factor at sentencing. This Government is serious about restoring law and order.Paulo Garcia: Why is addressing the harm caused by gangs important?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well because gangs cause serious harm. They spread violence deal in drugs and create intergenerational drama. For too long they've been allowed to behave as if they're above the law—they are not.Paulo Garcia: What statistics has he seen on law and order in New Zealand?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: In the past five years gangs have recruited more than 3000 new members and there has been significant escalation in gang-related violence public intimidation and shootings. Violent crime has increased by 33 percent; gangs play a significant part in this.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: What is the purpose of his non-consorting orders when sections 112 to 123 of the Sentencing Act already have a comprehensive framework for non-association orders?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well the purpose of the non-consorting legislation is to stop serious gang offenders meeting with particular other serious gang offenders to create crimes. That is a piece of legislation that we've learnt from some of the Australian states and it's making a real impact on disrupting the gang activity. So the real purpose is to make it more difficult for the gangs to operate effectively in this country.Paulo Garcia: What impact will the ban on gang insignia in public places have on freedom of expression?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well it will have an impact on gangs' freedom to intimidate and create fear. Gang members want all the rights of being a New Zealander but none of the responsibility that comes with it. Expressing fear and intimidation is not a form of expression that this Government supports.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: What is the purpose of his reforms around the sentencing of gang members when section 9 of the Sentencing Act already makes it clear that being a gang member is an aggravating factor?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well the purpose of this legislative change is to also remove the need for a connection between being a gang member and that specific crime that has been caused. We want to make the broader point that gang membership has an impact on the overall wellbeing of this country in terms of law and order. The other point of it is this very simple idea that a political party would campaign in Opposition to do something and when elected they do it. That's what we're doing in this legislation.Paulo Garcia: How are the commitments to restore law and order progressing as outlined in the Government's 100-day plan?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Oh well thank you—this Government is making excellent progress. We've abolished the prison target reduction we're stopping taxpayer funding for section 27 reports we'll soon introduce legislation to implement our package to tackle gangs and my colleague Minister McKee will have further announcements to make on restoring law and order very soon.Hon Nicole McKee: How would incorporating gang affiliation as an aggravating factor during sentencing enhance the safety of our communities throughout New Zealand?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well by giving greater weight to gang membership as an aggravating factor in sentencing courts will be able to impose more serious punishments on to an individual who has an association with gangs. We're restoring serious consequences for crime and delivering on our commitments as set out in the coalition agreement between both ACT and New Zealand First and the National Party.