Nats promise review of indecency law

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 3

Nats promise review of indecency law

Wellington reporter

The National Party has promised to review the ease with which young people have access to indecent material.

The promise has come in the second part of the party’s policy on justice. The first part of the policy, dealing with law and order, vowed to increase sentences and give the police greater resources.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, released last evening details of his party’s policy on the Bill of Rights, indecent publications, the sale of liquor, freedom of information, and the courts. The main features of the policy are: • Opposition to the proposed Bill of Rights. • Limiting the time a Cabinet Minister or Government department can take to reply to a request for official information.

9 A review of laws governing indecent material. • Reduction of the long delays in criminal and civil court proceedings.

• Retention of the Licencing Control Commission and no transference of its functions to local authorities.

• A review of legislation to ensure it does not interfere with freedom of speech. Mr Bolger said at a public meeting in Auckland last evening that his party opposed the Bill of Rights because it would allow the courts to override the will of Parliament. “I believe this is extremely presumptuous and quite alien to our democratic and constitutional system,” he said.

The bill would increase the work of the courts as litigants tried to establish obscure points in the law. It would not, "however, improve the individual freedoms of New Zealanders, he said.

A review of the legislation governing indecent publications was necessary because of the easy availability of undesirable material in books, video tapes, magazines, and films. Mr Bolger said that to

reduce the volume of cases in the courts, the National Party would appoint experienced lawyers to act in place of judges. These lawyers would deal with pre-trial and procedural matters. ’ < ■

He also said that theparty’s law and order package; announced last Thursday, included measures to deal with the causes of crime. The Government had failed to recognise some . of these causes because tp| do so would question its own economic and social policies. Unemployment was at a record level and helped create resentment, frustration, and a general loss of respect for the law. Crime was also symptomatic of a decline in individual responsibility and self-discipline, and it often represented failure by parents, the education system, and society in general.

Under National, people receiving unempolyment benefit would have to do community-type work rather than being paid to do nothing.