Labour justice spokesperson Phil Goff is urging the Government and the independent MPs who prop it up, to support a more sensible response to the public's concern over crimes in the home.

"The Government's Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Bill is a nonsense. Today I will present a Supplementary Order Paper which outlines a much simpler and less anomalous change to the law.

"Judges will be required when sentencing a violent offender to regard it as a serious aggravating factor if the offence was committed in the victim's home, or on the property on which the home is situated.

"This approach is in line with the advice offered to the Select Committee by Crown Prosecutor and Law Commissioner member, Tim Brewer.

"It covers all violent offences in your home or on your property. A father who betrays the trust of his children and repeatedly rapes his young daughter, will be subject to the same penalty regime as the intruder who attacks the child.

"Under National's flawed legislation, the father faces a maximum penalty that is five years less than the stranger.

"The man who murdered Christopher Crean by shooting him through the glass front door of his New Plymouth home would not have been considered a "home invader" by the Government. Under my amendment, he would be.

"The Government's approach creates dozens of bizarre anomalies which would make our sentencing law a farce.

"Sir Douglas Graham has acknowledged the bill is flawed and will do nothing to deter criminals. Labour is now offering him and the other Government MPs a chance to support a sensible approach that is far more effective in recognising the sanctity of the home," Mr Goff said.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>