Clean Slate Bill To Benefit 'Clements-In-Waiting'

Friday 12 Mar 2004 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Crime & Justice

Lisa Clement's prison sentence means she can no longer prey upon unwary employers - but Justice Minister Phil Goff's Clean Slate Bill would ensure that those same employers are vulnerable to her fellow fraudsters, ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"Five-and-a-half-years might be inadequate, but the Parole Board will have to let her out in less than two years if she is not a danger to the community," Mr Franks said.

"More than $1 million per year of prison might seem worthwhile to copycat fraudsters.

"Clement got her job by hiding her previous dishonesty convictions but, had it insisted, MSD could have uncovered them and none of this would have happened. Under Mr Goff's new law, however, she would have been perfectly entitled to hide her convictions.

"And, under this law, any employer who tried to look beyond her denial of convictions would have been committing an offence themselves - and liable for a $10,000 fine. Labour is using the Clean Slate Bill to make victims of employers.

"Now that Clement has a prison sentence, she will not have the benefit of Mr Goff's Liars Protection law - but many other young thieves and liars will be able to hunt unwary employers," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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