1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Afternoon. The government is on a law and order roll 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: this afternoon it's announced coward punches will be made a 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: specific offense to make sure that perpetrators get punished more harshly, 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: so if a victim dies following the attack, the maximum 5 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: penalty is life imprisonment and new offenses will be added 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: to the three strikes regiment. Of course, earlier tougher penalties 7 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: were announced for anyone who attacks first responders. Paul Goldsmith 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: is the Justice Minister and. 9 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: With us, Hey Paul, Hi, Heather, how are you going? 10 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: Very well? Thank you? What's brought on the coward punch changes? 11 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 2: Ah? Well, Look, something that's been part of the New 12 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: Zealand First National Coalition and has been a real concern 13 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: for a lot of people for a long time that 14 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 2: there's these people are just coming in with a king 15 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 2: hit from the back, causing mayhem and changing people's lives forever, 16 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 2: and we want to send a stronger signal that that's 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: absolutely not accepted and we'll have real harsh consequences. 18 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: Do you think it will disinvent incentivize somebody who is 19 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, let's say, on the terps feeling got 20 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: their blood up and wanting to punch someone. 21 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 2: Well, look, I mean that's a sort of an age 22 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: old sort of justice debate, and people in the heat 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: of the moment do stupid things and don't think about 24 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 2: the consequences. But sort of more broadly, it's a bit 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: like water on a stone. Society ever sends a message 26 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: that oh, look, we'll come up with excuses for crime 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: and we'll sort of find every way to avoid sheeting 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: home responsibility, or we can send a different message, and 29 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: that's what this government has been sending consistently, one which 30 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: is there are real consequences for crime. We are going 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 2: to make people accountable and we're going to send a 32 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: very strong message from Parliament to the judiciary that we 33 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: expect serious consequences for serious crime. And so that's what 34 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: the sentencing reform is about, limiting the amount of discretion 35 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 2: that judges have to reduce sentences right across the board. 36 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: It's what three strikes is about. And then what we've 37 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: done here would send a single around an extra year 38 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: for the cowards punch over on top of the current 39 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 2: sentencing and likewise for the first responder, sending that clear message. 40 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: On the first responders. Labors Duncan weggs Web says you 41 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: already get a longer sentence if you attack a first responder. 42 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: Well, at the moment, it's what's called an aggravating factor 43 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: and sentencing, and we wanted to go one step further 44 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: and that say well, actually, you know, we're going to 45 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 2: lift the maximum sentence a couple of years for it. 46 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: Would it have the same practical outcome? Would it be 47 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: different than Harsher? 48 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 2: Oh no, it's just taking up another notch. And you 49 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: know so Parliament sent a signal before in relation to 50 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 2: police that it's an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing, 51 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 2: and we were taking it up another notch now, which 52 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 2: is to say, well, actually more than that. Actually we 53 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 2: want to increase the maximum penalty to send even more 54 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: powerful message. And we're also including the ambulance drivers and 55 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: firefighters and also corrections officers because these are the people 56 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: that go forward to danger in society and they should 57 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 2: be treated with absolute respect, not beaten up. 58 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: Paul, Thank you very much, appreciate it, Paul Goldsmith, Justice Minister. 59 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive listen live to 60 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: news talks. 61 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: It'd be from four pm weekdays or follow the podcast 62 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: on iHeartRadio,