Brown Peter: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Brown Peter: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I would like to comment on the last point that Lianne Dalziel made. If she reads the commentary on the bill she will find it is quite different from what she has just said in the House. It states and this refers to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee: “We gave serious consideration to whether those convicted of serious offences before the commencement of the bill should be able to appeal against the prohibition from holding a passenger endorsement. While a prohibition from carrying passengers rules out this form of employment they will be allowed to undertake other employment involving driving.” There is no mention of an appeal there thus far. The commentary then goes on to state: “The majority believes public safety is of such importance that it is essential that people convicted of very serious offences should not hold passenger endorsements.” 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Read the last two paragraphs. 
PETER BROWN 
: If the member—who was once a Minister—just listens for a minute I will get to that little bit. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: All members of the committee. 
PETER BROWN 
: Yes. Further on the commentary on the bill states: “New Zealand First is concerned there is no appeal provision whatsoever for current drivers including those who might have been driving for many years and have subsequently led a responsible life and their crime is known to the public.” When that was inserted the members of the committee would not consider appeal rights at all. That part of the commentary concludes: “All members of the committee recommend that further consideration be given to this matter.” 
Lianne Dalziel 
: That’s right. 
PETER BROWN 
: Well that is quite different from the way the member explained the situation. 
Let me just explain New Zealand First’s position on this aspect of the bill. We are not a party that wants to defend murderers rapists and other people who have committed serious crimes—not for one minute. But the officials told us we may be talking about as many as 200 people in this category who have been driving for some time. We were told at the select committee that if this bill goes through as currently worded the police could go along one night stop a cab and say to the driver that they are sorry but cab driving is over for him or her. That could happen whether or not the person had been driving cabs for 5 minutes 15 years or 30 years. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Do you think rapists should be allowed to drive taxis? 
PETER BROWN 
: Now the member has changed her mind. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: I have said no to murder and no to rape. 
PETER BROWN 
: Well I have not seen a Supplementary Order Paper. The Government has not had the courtesy to show us even the glimmer of a Supplementary Order Paper. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: So New Zealand First thinks it’s OK for rapists and murderers to drive taxis? 
PETER BROWN 
: If the member over there on the Government benches would take a deep breath and listen for a moment it would be of some assistance. We say that an individual who may well have been driving a cab for a considerable number of years may in his or her youth have been guilty of one of the lesser of the serious offences and should have the right of appeal. It is not right to take away a person’s livelihood. That individual— 
Lianne Dalziel 
: We have always agreed with that. 
PETER BROWN 
: She agrees now. She did not agree at the select committee. Let me make that quite clear. Some individuals do turn their lives round. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: What about rape and murder? Answer the question. 
PETER BROWN 
: I will answer any question the member wants to put to me but I wish she would put it at a more appropriate time. I am trying to outline New Zealand First’s position. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: You agree with rapists and murderers? 
PETER BROWN 
: No I do not agree with rapists and murderers— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: Order! 
PETER BROWN 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I do not agree with rapists and murderers driving cabs but the bill has it right in terms of rapists murderers and goodness knows what else being prohibited from getting a passenger endorsement if they go for one. But we are talking about a person who maybe 20 or 30 years ago committed a serious offence and who has led a responsible blameless life since. We are saying not that that person should drive a cab or do anything else but that he or she should have the right of an appeal. It is not right that nanny State comes along and just takes away his or her licence. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: We agree. 
PETER BROWN 
: That member now agrees with me and I am thankful for that. We have very persuasive powers in New Zealand First. Let me just say that such a cab driver may well at this point in time own several cabs. That person may be a successful business person in his or her own right and may drive one cab and have drivers for other cabs. It is not right that we just withdraw that person’s livelihood without a right of appeal. So New Zealand First is fighting for those individuals to have the right of appeal. 
Debate interrupted.