Public should be alarmed at handling of 'boy racer' bill

Green Youth Affairs Spokesperson today said parliament's shambolic handling of the so-called 'Boy Racer Bill' should be of real concern to all New Zealanders.

Every party in parliament except the Greens voted to pass Clayton Cosgrove's 'Boy Racer Bill' on the back of a media driven panic earlier this year. The Bill has since been found to breach the Bill of Rights.

In select committee today Legislation Advisory Committee Chair Richard Clarke said the bill was unnecessary as the issues could be dealt with under existing legislation.

"The public should be worried about the tendency of MPs to promote bad legislation to try to look good," said Nandor.

"Parliament was hysterical in its desire to whip this bill through. Although many MPs privately admitted that it was bad legislation, MPs were falling over themselves to be seen to be supporting it.

"The Greens where derided when we pointed out that not requiring police to prove guilt before confiscating a car for up to 28 days set a dangerous precedent and that there was plenty of scope within existing legislation to deal with people misusing cars," he said.

"As a result the parliament voted to proceed this bill - which breaches the Bill of Rights and is now universally recognised as completely unnecessary - by 113 votes to the Greens' seven."

Nandor said MPs from all the political parties needed to take a good look in the mirror and reflect on why they were so keen to pass such obviously bad law.

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