Law And Order Policy (Press, 13 June 1984)

At a meeting of the Christchurch Lions Club on 13 June 1984, Mr Malcolm McDonald, president of the New Zealand Party, outlined the party's proposed law and order policy, which aims to repeal laws against victimless crimes, including homosexuality, prostitution, and attempted suicide. McDonald indicated that the full policy would be revealed in Auckland later in June. He highlighted the party's commitment to addressing crime rates in New Zealand by increasing police numbers and resources, stating that current limitations hinder effective policing. McDonald proposed relieving police of certain responsibilities that could be managed by other government departments, similar to roles fulfilled by the Customs and Inland Revenue departments. He argued that current laws targeting victimless crimes are ineffective and do not act as deterrents, suggesting that if these individuals succeed in their actions, they evade the law, while failed attempts lead to unnecessary police investigations. While advocating for the repeal of victimless crime laws, McDonald also insisted on imposing stricter penalties for serious and violent crimes, such as rape and drug-related offences. He expressed a need for reforming the prison system, generalising that many offenders emerge from incarceration as more capable criminals rather than rehabilitated individuals. He proposed that productive work for prisoners, with fair wages, should contribute to restitution for their crimes and assist their reintegration into society post-release. McDonald asserted that education is crucial in reducing crime rates, noting that well-educated individuals typically do not engage in criminal activities. He characterized New Zealand's current governance as an "elected dictatorship," indicating a need for change, particularly as the party claims approximately 20,000 members concerned about the government's approach over recent years. In response to questions from the audience, McDonald also touched upon the party's defence policy, which would involve immediate steps to ban nuclear weapons in New Zealand and re-evaluate the structure of the Armed Forces, including the potential for a referendum on the country's involvement in the ANZUS military alliance.

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