ACT MPs will turn out in force at ‘Sensible Sentencing’ rallies across New Zealand tomorrow, ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said.

“We will be proud to represent ACT. While others remain silent and hope that public outrage will disappear, ACT MPs will hold the political elite to account for their insipid response to ordinary New Zealanders’ concerns.

“Gerry Eckhoff will attend a rally in Balclutha; Ken Shirley in Hastings; Donna Awatere Huata in Napier; Owen Jennings in Christchurch; and Stephen Franks in Auckland.

“I accept that Mark Middleton had to be charged, convicted and sentenced. Like the New Zealanders attending these rallies, I believe in the rule of law.

“Mark’s stand would have meant little if he had not risked punishment. If people who deliberately break the law are just excused, it is no longer the law. We can judge the strength of feeling by his willingness to suffer punishment for a greater cause.

“But the political and judicial elite should be beside Middleton. They should be held to account for a murder every six weeks committed by an offender who has been released early, or the rape every week by a criminal let out before the end of his sentence.

”A form of justice is in our hands: It is what our civilised forbears gave us in place of mob rule. It is voting democracy. Democracy allows New Zealanders to hold politicians to account. Politicians such as Helen Clark and Matt Robson, Jim Anderton and Phil Goff, Margaret Wilson and George Hawkins, who voted to throw out ACT’s Truth in Sentencing Bill.

“This Bill would have required prisoners to serve a minimum of 80% of their sentences.

“Tomorrow, I will be proud to be among people prepared to stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough!’ Proud to signal that we will not be content with hopeless frustration when yet another smirking robber, rapist or murderer is hurried out of sight into the Labour Government’s care.

“Mark Middleton’s stand will be in vain if the New Zealanders at tomorrow’s rally were not determined to ensure Karla Cardno does not simply pass from memory.

“The best tribute we can make to him will be to make his sacrifice worthwhile.”

ENDS

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