LABOUR CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE WISHES OF VOTERS AT ITS PERIL – RON MARK

“Reports that the killers of Michael Choy could be out of prison in just 18 months confirms that Labour’s Sentencing and Parole Act was nothing more than a worthless exercise and exposes their willingness to continue to ignore the 1999 referendum results,” said New Zealand First’s Law and Order spokesman Ron Mark MP.

“Labour campaigned on a Law and Order platform, albeit somewhat poorly, and justified their consigning the Norm Withers referendum, approved by 92% of New Zealanders demanding longer and harsher sentences, to oblivion, by telling voters that their Sentencing and Parole Bill would increase the severity of sentences,” Mr Mark said.

“New Zealand First pointed out at the time that the Bill was soft and that it would result in murderers coming up for parole after having served only a very short time of their sentence, something Labour repeatedly denied,” Mr Mark asserted.

“Now we see the result.

“The truth is that the young killers of Michael Choy planned and executed a cowardly attack having lured their victim to a darkened place, and we are now expected to accept that they will be permitted to walk out of jail in less than two years if the parole board agrees.

“That is not tough on crime, that is soft on criminals and even worse, that’s pandering to criminals and ignoring completely the wishes of voters,” concluded Mr Mark.

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