Law and order bills advance in House

The Government has scrapped the three strikes law, a controversial mandatory sentencing regime it said caused ‘‘absurd and perverse’’ outcomes, despite opposition from National and ACT.

It was the first of two law and order bills to pass third reading in the House yesterday, alongside a bill which aims to keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of serious violence offences or gun crimes.

Labour MP Ginny Andersen described the three strikes regime as ‘‘window dressing’’ and ineffective. It was created in 2010 under the National-led government, and directs judges to sentence a third-time serious offender to the maximum sentence.

But it has had a disporportional impact on Ma¯ori while the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court have found sentences contravene the Bill of Rights Act.

ACT MP Nicole McKee spoke against the bill and said the regime ‘‘kept the worst of the worst from participating in a free for all’’. Ma¯ori Party co-leader Debbie NgarewaPacker said the law made the justice system ‘‘even more racist’’.

The bill passed its third reading with 77 votes for and 43 votes against.

The Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill also passed its third reading with support from National, ACT and the Green Party.

Under the bill, an order can be made against a person convicted of a serious violent offence or gun crime, to stop them accessing firearms or ammunition. The order lasts for a decade and makes it a further criminal offence to breach the order.

It was introduced by former police minister Poto Williams as part of gun law reforms after the 2019 mosque terror attack in Christchurch. The bill was introduced on December 15 and passed its second reading on August 4.