This is interesting. From the Greens’ Metiria Turei:
Last night on TVNZ7’s political show Backbenches, Rodney Hide commented that ACT had supported the Whanganui [Gang Insignia] Bill to “get Three Strikes through”.
In 2006 Mr Hide was positively sneering at Chester Borrows attempt to ban gang patches. Now it seems ACT has done a backroom deal with National, exchanging the party’s own principles to advance its legislative agenda,” said Mrs Turei.
The Three Strikes Bill has already had its first reading, so one can only assume that when Mr Hide says ‘get Three Strikes through’ he means National will support ACT in passing the Bill into law.
Of course, at this stage any speculation about a quid pro quo on the three strikes bill is just that, but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen ACT, and Rodney Hide in particular, engaging in grubby backroom deals to advance their agenda.
You’ve also got to wonder what National must be thinking if it’s agreed to push through a law that breaches the Bill of Rights Act just so it can tell gang members in Whanganui what they can wear.
Hopefully the media will be asking some questions.
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