Family First NZ has made submissions to two high profile bills before parliament at the moment. We would encourage you to take a moment to read these submissions and provide feedback on these important issues.

Three Strikes Law

Family First supports the intent of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill (also dubbed the “Three Strikes Law”). This law prevents REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS the ability to put families at risk. Here’s just one recent example “Police Killer had history of violence”

As stated in our submission…

Please note: there is further debate to be had on the role of prisons and how we tackle the drug, alcohol and educational needs of inmates. BUT that is a separate debate. This bill is about protecting your family and mine from REPEAT violent offenders.
Recent experience in the United States has also shown that enhanced sentencing measures work best when combined with other types of programs that can help reintegrate offenders back into the community. Government re-entry assistance in the form of temporary housing, vocational training, and counselling promises to help to reduce the incidents of re-offending and encourage offenders to seek productive and useful lives.

READ our Full Submission
FEEDBACK We would like to hear your thoughts on our submission. Email: feedback@familyfirst.org.nz
HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED? We would like to hear if you have been the victim of a violent crime and the offender has been on to their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, …10th offence. Please email in confidence
bob@familyfirst.org.nz

Sale and Supply of Liquor Laws

This bill deals with local liquor outlets, parental supervision, alcohol advertising and other issues. Family First supports the intent of this bill in attempting to minimise the harm of alcohol abuse and the increasing availability of alcohol. Ultimately, it is not alcohol that is the problem. It’s the abuse of alcohol and the culture of binge drinking that we have allowed to develop.
Specifically, we have recommended:
* pre-vetting procedure of liquor advertisements or promotions by the Director-General of Health
* Alcohol advertising should be limited to ‘target’ adult audiences, played later at night on free-to-air tv (at least 9.30pm), and should not be allowed on public billboards. The ads should contain health warnings (referred to above)
* grocery-selling stores should not be able to obtain a liquor licence but this should be extended to supermarkets
* banning of ‘loss leading’ with alcohol
* consumption by under 18’s should be illegal, irrespective of parental presence or consent.
* health warnings to be placed on alcohol, in the same way that health warnings have been placed on cigarettes.
* Raise the purchase age back to 20 — supported by public polls (70%) and a recent Police Association poll (75%)

READ our Full Submission
FEEDBACK We would like to hear your thoughts on our submission. Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

Related news

Govt proposes courses for parents whose kids break the law
TV3 News 18 Apr 2009

The Government wants to force parents whose children are repeatedly caught drunk under-age to take courses in becoming better parents. Police Minister Judith Collins joined officers as they patrolled the streets of Papakura last night. Ms Collins says it is disturbing that children as young as 12 are drinking hard liquor on the streets and at home.

..Ms Collins says some responsibility for the problem must lie with parents. “A lot of these young people are not getting alcohol from licensed premises,” she says. “They are getting it from supermarkets, and friends, and family and parents.” Ms Collins says the Government is looking at giving youth court judges the power to order parents whose children continually break the law to get mentored on parenting. “When you’ve got parents who are supplying their young under-age children with alcohol, those parents are failing.” Labour says it is not a solution by itself.
3News