21 March 2005
National Policy Pure Plagiarism - Peters
Rt Hon Winston Peters has described National’s policy on youth justice as very familiar and says large chunks have been
taken straight off the New Zealand First website.
Mr Peters said that once again Don Brash’s speech has been borrowed from the only party really in touch with the serious
issues confronting New Zealand.
“National has unashamedly plagiarised New Zealand First’s ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy and tried to redress the
provision of harsher punishments for recidivist offenders.
“They have also felt the need to ride in on our coat tails by calling for the age of criminal responsibility for young
offenders to be lowered. May I remind Dr Brash that Ron Mark prepared a private member’s bill three years ago for the
same thing (‘Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill’ 2002).
“I am sick and tired of having to guide the National party through political waters. It’s time they came up with some
ideas of their own,” said Mr Peters.
ENDS