National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp wants to know why Phil Goff is avoiding meeting Veronica Cardno, the mother of murdered teenager Karla Cardno.

"Mrs Cardno and her support group have been trying to meet Mr Goff but they have been fobbed off while he frantically tries to find answers to their inevitable questions.

"I met with the group today and they expressed their anger at being ignored by Mr Goff. Astoundingly, when they contacted Mr Goff's office to arrange an appointment, they were told to call back in three months when the Minister might be able to allocate time to see them.

"This is a Minister who claims to be listening to the people and says he will act to provide tougher sentences. As is usual, his actions do not back his rhetoric.

"It is absolutely clear that murderers like Paul Dally should not be released into the community. There are too many examples of violent offenders re-offending such as Walter Te Huia who murdered a solo mother and her daughter, and then after ten years imprisonment, committed aggravated burglary using an axe. Even more alarmingly, convicted murderer Dennis Luke was released only to murder again. He only received a 14-year non-parole period for his second murder offence.

"New Zealanders are crying out for action so that violent criminals serve time that fits the crime. The overwhelming support New Zealanders have shown to Mark Middleton illustrates the frustration in the community about the length of sentences given to violent criminals.

"My member's bill would put an end to automatic parole for violent criminals. If the Government won't support it when it gets drawn from the ballot I hope they at least steal one of National's ideas again so that New Zealanders feel justice has been done when violent criminals are sentenced," Mr Mapp said.

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