Copeland Gordon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Copeland Gordon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8667] 
9.  
GORDON COPELAND (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Justice 
: What actions will he take in response to the comments made yesterday by Auckland Mayor John Banks that “While it was Parliament’s decision to decriminalise prostitution every council is now in the difficult position of administering the Prostitution Reform Act.” echoing those made last week by Juliet Yates chairwoman of the Auckland City Council’s development committee that the legalising of prostitution has handed the council a job it did not want? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Acting Minister of Justice) 
: 
 As required by the Act the Minister is establishing the Prostitution Law Review Committee which will include a member nominated by the Minister of Local Government. The Minister of Justice promoted the Supplementary Order Paper that provided for councils to control the location of brothels because the bill was silent on the matter. Auckland City was one of the councils that sought such powers if the bill were to become law. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Is the Minister concerned by the statement last week by the Minister of Local Government that under the Prostitution Reform Act health and safety issues can now be addressed in light of the fact that the list of certified brothel-keepers is to be kept so secret that not even health and safety inspectors will know where all the brothels are; if not why not? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I do not have information in respect of that particular matter. If the member would like I will provide some supplementary information to him. I simply do not have it with me. 
Tim Barnett 
: Has the Prostitution Reform Act provided new powers to any other bodies additional to councils that have made Government policy more enforceable? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Yes the Minister of Immigration moved a Supplementary Order Paper that provided powers to revoke the permits of those on open work permits who are working in the sex industry which enhances the New Zealand Immigration Service’s ability to minimise the possibility of international students and others being targeted by the sex industry. I note that no other Government made such a move. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Has she had any meetings to discuss with the Minister of Local Government the extensive range of enforcement costs that the Labour Government is imposing on local authorities such as this prostitution regulation alcohol ban enforcements increased community policing and anti - boy racer measures just to mention a few? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Not that I am aware of. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that at one time the Prostitution Reform Bill before the select committee contained fairly rigid clauses that would have implemented zoning at the local body level but one time when the United Future member did not turn up Mr Barnett was successful in having those clauses deleted as a result giving a huge amount of work to local bodies—an issue that the select committee had been trying to address? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: The member raises a good point in that this was a member’s bill; it was dealt with by way of conscience vote in the House. 
Marc Alexander 
: Does the Minister concede that the amendments now decried by councils across the country as unwanted and unworkable were the very ones that he promoted in order to cobble together a majority for an otherwise flawed bill; if not why not? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: As I said in my first answer Auckland City was one of several councils that asked for the power to regulate the establishment of brothels within communities because the bill at that point was silent on the matter. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Does the Minister now agree that the decriminalisation of prostitution was not supported by the people of New Zealand when we see the local authorities who represent those people bringing in restrictions on brothel-keeping in their areas thus reflecting the true sentiments of their citizens? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: No it reflects that the Minister of Justice’s Supplementary Order Paper has achieved its purpose which is the local community through its council determining where brothels ought to be located.