Tracey Martin MP

Spokesperson for Women
10 NOVEMBER 2015

Roast Busters Debate Refused

New Zealand First is disappointed that the Speaker declined a request for an urgent debate in Parliament today on a case involving degrading acts against girls – a case that is being compared with the Roast Busters scandal.

“One of the similarities is that no charges were laid, only warnings given to the boys involved,” says Spokesperson for Women Tracey Martin.

“The Speaker’s ruling was doubly disappointing as it is only eight months since Minister of Police Michael Woodhouse spoke in Parliament on the failure of police in the Roast Busters case to act for a group of young women who were abused and humiliated.

“The Minister said: ‘We need to make sure, firstly, that we prevent these offences from occurring and encourage young women to speak up when they do, confident that they will be treated with respect, listened to, and believed’.

“But that has made no difference.

“Once again the young women of New Zealand have been let down by the inaction of some members of the New Zealand Police.

“At the very least the Minister should be asking why charges are not being laid under the Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment Bill 2005.

“Any uploaded video that shows that these young women could not consent to being photographed or filmed is all that is required for the police to act.

“It would send a very clear message that this behaviour is totally unacceptable,” says Mrs Martin.

“The Minister also said he was confident the police response to Roastbusters did not reveal a culture of ambivalence towards the complainants.

“Now it looks clear that there may be just such a culture in the police.”

ENDS

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