Alliance Minister Matt Robson has put the skids under Mr Goff’s proposed amendments to the Bail Bill, says National’s
Justice spokesman Tony Ryall.
“And it seems Alliance support for the Bail Bill is still unclear. Mr Robson confirmed in Parliament today that he still
thought the Bail Bill was ‘dangerous’.”
Ten days ago Mr Goff announced proposed amendments which would ‘reverse the onus’ on bail applications for those
defendants with 14 custodial sentences. This was a major backdown on his pre-election commitments.
Mr Robson was overseas at the time.
“The Bail Bill has slipped further and further down the order paper. Clearly Mr Goff has been unable to convince Mr
Robson.
“In the 2nd reading of the Bail Bill on 1 June 1999 Mr Robson said of the bill ‘…in my opinion it is far too dangerous
to put it forward in this form rather than in a consolidated and clarified form…I say to the House that it is far too
dangerous a step.’
“He also advised the House then – confirmed today – that the Alliance would not even support the Bail Bill going to a
select committee,” says Mr Ryall.
Ends