ACT Justice spokesperson Stephen Franks today said that instead of attacking the Judges Justice Minister, Phil Goff should be questioning the Minister of Corrections, Matt Robson, over his soft stand against criminals.

“The only person Phil Goff should be putting on notice is his Coalition colleague, Matt Robson, who in December said “longer prison sentences are not the new Government’s solution to keeping the community safe from violent criminals.”

“Mr Goff’s proposal to set sentencing guidelines for judges, simply will not work if Mr Goff and Mr Robson aren’t working to the same goal. But, if Matt Robson won’t support longer sentences for criminals the ACT Party will.”

“Locking violent criminals up for longer to keep New Zealanders safe will also require building extra prisons, however the Minister of Corrections put a hold on the plans for five new prisons in January this year. Matt Robson is not even prepared to take into consideration the projected rise in prison inmates forecast in the Department of Corrections briefing paper, without any changes, let alone the extra prison beds needed for longer sentences Mr Goff says he wants.”

“This Government is sending a confused message to the 84% of New Zealanders who want truth in sentencing and the 92% of the population who signed Norm Withers Citizens Initiated Referendum wanting tougher laws for criminals. How many people have to sign a petition before this Government gets the message?”

“The ACT Party is prepared to get tough on criminals. We see no reason why Mr Goff should waste time and taxpayers money on a sentencing review. All the Government has to do is take up Richard Prebble’s offer to make Truth in Sentencing a Government measure,” said Mr Franks.

ENDS

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