Darroch Ball MP

Spokesperson for Youth Affairs
21 SEPTEMBER 2016

Collins’ ‘Wusses’ Words Coming Back to Haunt Her

Comments made by Judith Collins eight years ago that National will be a “bunch of wusses” if they change the youth court age to include 17-year-olds are coming back to haunt her, says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Youth Affairs Darroch Ball.

“In 2008 National campaigned on being tough on youth crime and were vehemently opposed to increasing the youth court age to include 17 year olds.

“Minister of Police, Judith Collins, stated in response to a bill going through parliament at the time that ‘these people would just laugh at this bill and think we are a bunch of wusses.’

“Minister Collins was so strongly opposed that she stated that, ‘what we should not be doing is trying to say that a 17- year-old who smashes up somebody is just a child and is not responsible for his or her actions – we believe that the person is’.

“Another senior National Party MP and ex-police officer Chester Burrows also held a firm belief that the age should not change arguing that National, ‘believe that if someone is between 17 and 18 years of age then they should be treated for the adult that he or she is.’

“Nevertheless the National government is currently considering whether to increase the youth court age which it has been previously opposed to – a clear flip flop from their previous election stance of being ‘tough on crime’.

“So why the flip flop? Is there a split in the National caucus on a fundamental stance such as law and order or are they once again showing they are going softer on crime?

“New Zealand First is firm on its stance that young people involved in crime require accountability in line with the crime committed,” Mr Ball says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media