19 July 2009 Media Statement

Dalziel challenges Power to debate the issues

Labour’s Justice spokesperson has challenged Justice Minister, Hon Simon Power, to front up and debate the issues that were raised in the Chief Justice’s speech.

“The Minister has had time to read the speech, something he clearly had not done when he was door-stopped last week. That is the only reason I can think of for his extraordinarily arrogant ‘we write the rules, you apply them’ response to what was a considered and well-researched speech,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“I attended a Ministerial Drivers of Crime meeting hosted by the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Maori Affairs in April and given that many of the same issues that the Chief Justice has highlighted were raised there, where is the response to that?

“I have heard nothing until this extraordinary outburst from a Minister who clearly doesn’t want the answers he said he was committed to finding.” Lianne Dalziel said.

Lianne Dalziel congratulated those media that took this issue seriously and who had read the full speech.

“I don’t agree with every suggestion contained in the Chief Justice’s address, including the ‘early release amnesty’, but that was mentioned in two lines in a 15 page speech, so why it was the focus of so much attention including incurring the wrath of the Minister is beyond me,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“I am more interested in her suggestion that we look for solutions that actually reduce crime. The Chief Justice has talked about community education (as occurred in Finland) so people could actually see what is effective and what is not; intervention strategies for those at risk; better support for probation; increased attention to mental health and substance abuse; and finally she spoke of a frank policy of being prepared to reduce the prison population by management.

“I am challenging the Minister to debate these issues because I would relish the opportunity to see if we could develop a broad consensus.

“The Chief Justice has shared with us a wealth of knowledge and experience and it is wrong to attack her for doing so. This is not a time for kneejerk reactions; it is a time for a considered response. “Lianne Dalziel said.

Read related blog http://blog.labour.org.nz/justice

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