Govt Split On Bail Bill Bail Bill Delayed By Alliance

Labour has been forced to delay consideration of the Bail Bill and amendments because of major disagreements with its junior coalition partner, says National Justice spokesman Tony Ryall.

"Last week Phil Goff said he would be moving his amendment this week. Yet the Bail Bill just kept getting pushed down the order paper day after day.

"National understands that Mr Robson doesn't support Mr Goff's '14 strikes and you're out' amendments.

"And we've been told that some conservative Labour Members are disappointed that the new amendment is such a far cry from Mr Goff's pre-election rhetoric.

"Before the election Mr Goff promised that anyone with 10 convictions would be denied bail, but now that's been watered down to 14 custodial sentences. That's a far cry from his vein-popping speeches on the stump last year.

"But maybe Mr Goff shares Mr Maharey's view that there are some things you say when you're in opposition, which you don't say in government," says Mr Ryall.

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