-
Source: ONE News -
Related
Budget 2009 provides $9 million in operating funding and $800,000 in capital funding to upgrade court security over the next four years.
Courts Minister Georgina Te Heuheu says the new funding will help improve safety for court users and staff while maintaining public confidence in the system.
"Scanning and searching people entering courts is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of security incidents," she says.
The funding will enable the employment of around 30 more court security officers over the next four years, as well as the purchase of additional security equipment such as walk-through metal detectors, baggage scanners, radios and closed circuit TV systems.
More prison beds planned
The Corrections Minister earlier announced that the government is funding the department to do initial design and planning work for the construction of additional prison beds.
Judith Collins says confirmation of $24 million allows Corrections to complete detailed design and planning work for the construction of additional prison beds at different sites in the upper North Island.
"Current prison population forecasts show a significant number of new beds will be required...the government is taking immediate steps to ensure that there is secure, safe and cost-effective accommodation in place to hold these prisoners," she says.
But Collins says the government is still focused on reducing the number of prisoners who reoffend and is boosting rehabilitation through more industry skills training and double the number of prisoners eligible for drug and alcohol treatment.
National has also given prisons staff greater powers to search prisoners and their mail for contraband. The Corrections Amendment Act increases penalties for prisoners using contraband as well as for those found to be supplying illicit items. The Act makes it an imprisonable offence for a prisoner to possess or use an electronic communication device such as a cellphone, and for anyone to possess an unauthorised item without reasonable excuse while visiting or working in a prison.
Before the election National was advocating the use of private management - a return to the regime installed by the last National government which allowed prison management to be put out for competitive tender on a case-by-case basis.
Law and order was a key factor in the battle for the votes of New Zealanders before the election. While tax cuts and the economy dominated the build up to the election, a ONE News Colmar Brunton poll showed law and order (67%) was important for voters.
Access to legal services assured
Budget 2009 provides $17.1 million in operating funding in 2009/10 to maintain essential access to justice services for those unable to afford their own legal advice and representation.
The funding is needed to ensure the immediate future of legal aid and community law centres while a fundamental review of the legal aid system is under way, Justice Minister Simon Power says.
"By guaranteeing equality before the law and natural justice for everyone, the government upholds public confidence in the legitimacy and effectiveness of the justice system."
Community law centres faced a significant drop in funding which is sourced mostly from interest earned on solicitors' nominated trust accounts and is declining due to a slowing housing market and lower interest rates. The $7.2 million top-up for community law centres in 2009/10 will enable the existing level of services to be maintained.
The Legal Services Agency will receive $9.9 million in 2009/10 to help retain its legal aid providers who provide legal advice to people charged with offences. Both initiatives provide interim funding pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of legal aid announced by the government in April.
Other law and order issues
Earlier in the week the government pushed through legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal street racing. The Police Minister set about earning her nickname of Crusher Collins with new laws which will allow cars to be crushed for repeat offences like burnouts and skids.
Prime Minister John Key says boy racer behaviour is irritating and dangerous and he wants their cars off New Zealand's roads. "This government and the public have run out of patience with illegal street races," says Key.
The government also tweaked other parts of the law to allow a car to be seized and sold to pay unpaid fines. Cruising the streets will now become illegal.
The government met one of its "first 100 days" promises when it brought a bill to parliament that strengthens the laws used against gangs, making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing, strengthening the law that makes it an offence to be a member of a criminal organisation, making it easier for police to intercept gang communications and giving them more powers to storm and remove gang fortifications.
In January Power lashed out at cost over-runs on the construction of New Zealand's new supreme court. The building will cost $80 million - $15 million more than originally budgeted. Power promised to run an iron rule over the project's cost until completion late next year.
The government has toughened up laws to allow judges to come
down much harder on offenders if their crimes involve children.
Judges must now consider the defencelessness of children. And it
has toughened bail laws to raise the bar for judges wanting to keep
an alleged offender in jail while awaiting trial, requiring that
the alleged offender presents a "real or substantial risk" to the
public, rather than any risk at all.
What do you make of Budget 2009? What does it mean for you
and your family? Share your views on the message board
below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentNoddy samurai said on 2009-05-29 @ 18:57 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think the same as "UP2DATE I think it's about the best National could have done. Nobody including Labour predicted just how bad things would get so overall I'm pretty happy with it
UP2DATE said on 2009-05-28 @ 17:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think it's about the best National could have done. Nobody including Labour predicted just how bad things would get so overall I'm pretty happy with it. I had been a Labour supporter up until the last election but the "nanny state" thing had me change. I'm so glad. How disappointing is Phil Goff as leader of the Labour party? Mr Negative without any real alternative...