Dear John,

Real consequences for crime

I am sure many of you were pleased to read about the new Sentencing (Reform=
) Amendment Bill that now has become law and which will to restore some rea=
l consequences for crime and take more account of the suffering of victims.

Restoring suitable prison sentences that address the =C2=A0alarming increas=
e in violent crime, ram raids and aggravated robberies over the past few ye=
ars, will help reduce the number of victims significantly and also reduce r=
epeat serious offending by youth by an estimated 15 per cent.

Our Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith said the culture of crime that undue=
leniency in sentencing has promoted, has also resulted in a loss of public=
confidence in sentencing, and our justice system as a whole. The new law w=
ill end this and will also signal to victims that they deserve justice and =
they are our priority.

The main purpose of the reforms is to strengthen the Justice system by

- Capping the sentence discounts that judges can apply at 40 per cent ;

- Preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse;

- Introducing a new aggravating factor in serious retail crime when it is a=
n attack on a solo worker or a family business;

- Supporting the use of cumulative sentencing for offences committed while =
on bail, in custody, or on parole into one longer sentence;=C2=A0

- Implementing a sliding scale for early guilty pleas with a maximum senten=
ce discount of 25 per cent;

- Amending the principles of sentencing to include information provided to =
the court about the victims=E2=80=99 interests;

- Adding two new aggravating factors which are aiding or abetting young peo=
ple or children to offend and posting and glorifying criminal activities on=
line.
Cutting the cost of Consultants=C2=A0

The Government will be able to spend this $800 million on delivering core s=
ervices to taxpayers in areas like healthcare, law enforcement, and educati=
on.

The core public service workforce in administrative or back office roles ha=
s decreased by 4 percent in the 12 months to December 2024 but this will no=
t affect the delivery of services because front line roles have been increa=
sed in government departments and agencies.=C2=A0

Importantly reductions will not impact on Police, Healthcare workers, Teach=
ers or Defence Force personnel.
=C2=A0
Back to basics for the public service

I announced last week that the Government is overhauling the Public Service=
Act 2020 as part of its ongoing push to get back to basics and deliver val=
ue for money to taxpayers.

The New Zealand National Party-ACT New Zealand Coalition Agreement requires=
the Act to be amended to =E2=80=9Cclarify the role of the public service, =
drive performance and ensure accountability to deliver on the agenda of the=
government of the day=E2=80=9D.

=E2=80=9CThe Public Service Act 2020, implemented by the previous governmen=
t, added new responsibilities to the core role of chief executives which di=
minished their responsibility for implementing government policies and maki=
ng efficient use of taxpayer money. In reality, we need chief executives to=
follow the laws of New Zealand =E2=80=93 like all other employers must.=C2=
=A0

This will assist the Public Service to be pro-active in making decisions th=
at progress economic growth for the country and to do its best work with ef=
ficiency and professionalism for New Zealanders.

The Public Service Amendment Bill, due in July, will clarify the role of th=
e public service and streamline the responsibilities of the Chief Executive=
s.

It is important that we are mindful of the principles of merit-based employ=
ment and improved performance management. We also want up-to date tools to =
improve communications, sharing of resources and collaboration within the p=
ublic services and to manage risk better.

I am determined to help bring more discipline to government spending and so=
enable New Zealand=E2=80=99s economy to grow, creating more jobs, higher i=
ncomes and money to invest in core services such as schools, hospitals and =
roads.
=C2=A0
My best wishes for the School Holidays and the observation of Easter and th=
e public holidays,

Judith

Hon Judith Collins KC
MP for Papakura

=E2=80=8A

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=C2=A0
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Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand
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nd, then it is a fundraising event with proceeds, after costs, being a dona=
tion to the New Zealand National Party.
=C2=A0
Authorised by J de Joux, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington.

=C2=A9 2025 | All rights reserved.

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