This series of posts, picking on weird things that National leader Simon Bridges says, is like shooting fish in a barrel. There is so much choice …
Latest is his comments on Darroch Ball’s Shoplifting (Offence and Penalties) Bill.
First up he cannot do math. He struggled to work out what was 1.5 times $2 and said initially that it was $2.50.
He also was not aware that the bill imposes a minimum fine of $150. In fact this is crystal clear from the contents of the bill which says:
9 Interpretation
In this subpart — infringement fee in relation to an infringement offence, means the greater of:
(a) $150:
(b) an amount equal to 1 and one half times the value of the goods to which the offence relates calculated in accordance with section 7(2):
You would think that he would have used his experience as a crown prosecutor to read and understand the bill. It was only 7 pages long.
It is not as if he was caught by surprise. This was the first question he was asked. Surely his media advisers were told what would be discussed and prepared him for the interview.
The bill itself is a bit of a mess with this gem of a statement in the explanatory note:
Currently, prosecutions for shoplifting under the Crimes Act are cumbersome. This is administratively onerous and costly for the police, courts and judicial system. This bill shortcuts the tangled litany of red tape, going straight to the infringement.
As well as this:
Shoplifting is not going away; its frequency and brazen nature increases from amateur opportunists at entry level to organised gangs stealing to order. Swift, sharp and immediate action for this gateway crime is an opportunity to break the cycle.
Prosecutions are no more cumbersome than they were twenty years ago. It is just that police resources are used differently. And issuing infringement notices is not going to reduce red tape, it will only increase it.
And an instant fine for someone so desperately poor that they steal something? I am sure that will work well.
Jane Bowron in this impressive opinion piece advises Bridges to stop barking at every passing car. To this I would add he should keep his mouth shut unless and until he actually knows what he is talking about.
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