to. Dog Control
Dog Control (Category 1 Offences) Amendment Bill, first reading. The
question is that the Dog Control (Category
be considered by the Primary Production
Production Committee. Those of that opinion will say Aye.
To the contrary,
Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment
Amendment Bill, first reading. I call Chris Bishop.
I move that the Arms
Amendment Bill be
time. I nominate the Justice Committee
Committee to consider the bill. Madam
Madam Speaker, this is a member's bill in
bill in my name to amend the Arms Act 1983 to provide new powers for
police to prevent the most
dangerous gang members in our communities from
recognising the need to not put unnecessary
unnecessary restrictions on legal gun owners. The
bill provides strong new powers
new powers for our NZ Police to make sure
sure dangerous gang members in our communities do
communities do not have access to or control
control of firearms. The
The legislation does this by establishing firearms
establishing firearms prohibition orders which will
apply to the toughest
toughest gang members, who hold multiple criminal
multiple criminal convictions, and who have a history of serious
offending. Firearms
offending. Firearms prohibition orders and gang
members' restrictions on licences
restrictions on licences were recommendations of the
select committee
committee report on the inquiry into issues
issues relating to the illegal position
position of firearms in New Zealand in the
also endorsed by the then Government in its response to the report.
The police
The police briefing for the incoming Minister, the Hon
flash Nash, provides
Minister, the Hon flash Nash,
implementing of these prohibition orders. These have
been implemented in
in three states in Australia. In bill
in three states in Australia. In
debating tonight, Madam Speaker, is modelled closely on the New South
prohibition orders. Madam
I'm sure all members of the House would find it concerning to read
daily stories of the
increasing activity, firearms activity,
undertaken by
undertaken by those involved with gangs in
gangs in New Zealand. Cases that immediately
immediately spring to mind are the multiple home sides
across Whanganui, the wider Bay of
Plenty, Hamilton.
Hamilton. Too many firearms are ending
ending up in the hands of violent criminal
criminal gang members. That has to change.
change. Underthis bill, if you are a
a gang member, you won't be allowed to
to own or possess a firearm. End of store try
store try
The bill reflects the fact that the vast majority of Kiwi farmers,
h u nters and
citizens. They should not be treated the same as
illegal gang members who store firearms away
and want to do harm to New Zealand families. I want
to assure
owners that this bill does not impinge on their freedoms.
However, these powers, similar to those
in NSW, will widen the powers
for police to search the cars and
vehicles of gang members. They
will only apply
only apply to the most dangerous gang
gang members who have convictions for
for gang offences. The pool of people is
people is based on criteria set out in
in this legislation in a newly inserted
people
clause 59A. This specifies that if someone
someone is a member of a gang and within the last 10 years has been
scon of
scon of an offence under the Arms Act, the Defence Act, or a
Serious Violent
Violent 1 Offence and Sentencing Act,
Act, it will make it reasonable for police
will be eligible for a prohibition order but it will be
up to the Police
Police Commissioner to prioritise the most serious offenders in this
group. These
group. These people pay no attention to
to obtaining a firearms licence so we need to
be able to search them. The
The Commissioner of Police will be have the
have the power to make an order in respect of these offencers and
any decision made
be reviewen by the District Court. That's
That's very important. There is the
That's very important. There is the oversight of the
District Court and the judicial system. The police
Commissioner will have to sign off
on each order and any person subject
to the order will have the ability
to challenge this in court. Police
will be expected to report searches
of persons
of persons and vehicles around this regime. A person who contravenes
59B 1
regime. A person who contravenes 59B 1 will be liable for a term of
imprisonment not exceeding five years.
years. Or in the case where the firearm
firearm is a pistol or restricted weapon,
weapon, to a term not exceeding 14 years. In addition to
prohibition on possessing firearms, persons must not
persons must not acquire or possess ammunition. Doing
they're
a term of imprisonment
five years. A
A firearms prohibition order has been
been placed on an individual, they're
they're able to reside at premises where firearms parts,
present, contravening this will also see
see them liable for conviction under the
the Act. Madam Speaker,
Madam Speaker, the violence of gangs illustrated
illustrated in their intimidation tactics
tactics and heightened through the use and
simply not acceptable in New Zealand. Gangs intimidate
and incite fear.
fear. We want people to feel safe in their communities. Madam
Speaker, police have said
these changes would enhance
enhance their ability to control illegal firearms and
requested stronger safeguards to protect
protect New Zealanders from illegal firearms
firearms possession. This bill and the
the creation of a firearms prohibition
mitigating the harm caused to our communities
communities from gangs. I note that when
when this bill was pulled from the ballot
ballot earlier in the year, the reception from many parts of the
community, Madam Speaker, was very warm.
warm. It was pleasing to have the suppon
warm. It was pleasing to have the support of the
Police Association President,
President, Chris Cahill, and many other
other are people in our community who acknowledge
who acknowledge that this is a good and
and sensible amendment to the Arms Act.
Act. This is a bill that was recommended by the police.
It's supported
supported by the Police Association. It
It was recommended by the
did the extensive inquiry into illegal
illegal firearms in the last Parliament. So this is a bill that
seeks to implement what the previous
parliamentary select
recommended, something supported by the
the Police Association, and also by the
the Police. Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to
the House The question is that the motion
be agreed to. I call the Hon
Dr David Clark. Madam Speaker, in
Speaker, in New South Wales, where they implemented similar legislation
as we've just
heard from the member, an Ombudsman review
found multiple failings
failings in this approach, including,