Macindoe Tim: General Debate 
Macindoe Tim: General Debate 
[Volume:664;Page:12322] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I am delighted to tell my Waikato colleague Nanaia Mahuta that unemployment is falling and confidence is returning to our region and in fact right around the country. But I will return to the theme that has been outlined by the member for Whanganui and other speakers on this side of the House and say that one of the many achievements of the National-led Government since it came into office has been a raft of significant law and order initiatives that will have and indeed are having a hugely beneficial impact in creating safer communities throughout New Zealand. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: What’s the drop in crime in Manukau? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: It is long past the time I tell Dr Prasad that we put our focus on the interests and rights of victims—something that that member’s previous Government sadly failed to do. 
For far too long the trauma of being a victim of crime has often been compounded by the insensitivity of the judicial system which has focused on the prisoner in the dock. The judicial system often re-traumatised victims by subjecting them to distressing public airings of their experiences and the horror of facing their attackers in court and answering defence counsel’s questions that try to attribute some blame or responsibility to the victims for what has occurred. 
Just recently in Hamilton I had the great privilege of meeting Louise Nicholas and of hearing first-hand just how traumatising were her well-publicised experiences of a few years ago. It is pertinent to note—as the Minister of Justice told us at question time—that Louise has welcomed the recent announcements of the Minister about initiatives to support victims. I am sure that every member of this House would wish to protect any future victim from the terrible ordeal that Louise endured. 
It is also pleasing to note the positive reaction of our police to the new on-the-spot safety orders. The police are confident that these measures will save lives and that has to be welcome news in every community from Kaitaia to Stewart Island. Yes there will be some challenges to collect the new offender levies from some criminals. When the measures were being discussed in the House some time ago I recall that members opposite at times scoffed at the suggestion but there are ways and means of doing this too. I know that my constituents in Hamilton are delighted to know that the victims’ compensation scheme will collect an estimated $13.6 million over the first 4 years that it will be in existence. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: How much? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: It will collect an estimated $13.6 million. The fine people of West Coast - Tasman will be as delighted as the people of Hamilton West are. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: How much to run the scheme? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: Instead of scoffing at the proposal I say to Dr Prasad and other members opposite I challenge those members to tell the House whether they are opposed to the enhanced homicide support service that the new fund will support. I ask Dr Prasad whether he opposes it and whether in the unlikely event of his being returned to Government Labour will cancel the provision of grants of $250 for victims of sexual violence towards the expenses they incur as a result of that experience. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Nick Smith already has. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: Will Labour revoke I ask Mr Hughes the High Court attendance grant of $124 per person per day which we have introduced for up to five adult members of a homicide victim’s family? Will Labour revoke the funeral grant of up to $4500 to families of homicide victims? Of course it will not. It is pretty clear from the way Mr Hughes is interjecting that he does not like the question but I know jolly well he would not ever move to get rid of that—at least; I certainly hope he would not. 
In 2008 I campaigned in Hamilton West as strongly as I could on the urgent need for our country to tackle the horrific problem of P in our society. Methamphetamine is an abomination. Those who succumb to it are on the road to ruin. Anything and everything we can do to protect the young and the vulnerable from encountering those who manufacture or distribute P or from encountering those who entice new victims to try it must be done. I am thrilled and proud that our Government has taken significant steps to clamp down on the criminal gangs the drug manufacturers and pushers—all power to its arm. 
I am proud that we are putting an extra 600 front-line police officers on our streets by the end of next year. I am proud that we are providing access for victims to compensation that may have been awarded to those who harmed them. But I am also proud that we are getting serious about the rehabilitation of prisoners especially those who require the drug and alcohol treatment measures that we are expanding and the raft of extra options that we have given to the Youth Court to deal with some of our youngest offenders as was mentioned by the member for Whanganui. These are all great measures for New Zealand and they are particularly welcomed in Hamilton. I close by congratulating my friend Rev. Maku Potae on his appointment as the national director of the Prison Chaplaincy Service of Aotearoa New Zealand.