KEY POINTS:
The National Party will oppose a bill which increases Youth Court penalties despite leader John Key describing it as "long overdue" in a keynote speech.
A Government bill will include 17-year-olds under Youth Court jurisdiction and boost the court's powers, including increasing the maximum length of residential orders
from three months to six.
The children, young persons and their families amendment bill is set down for its first reading soon.
Mr Key said the National Party would oppose it, despite praising the bill for giving the Youth Court more powers in his major January speech focusing on youth justice.
In his "boot camps" speech he praised the new legislation for extending youth sentences, and said it was "long overdue".
"National supports this extension and in Government we will, as a matter of priority, pass the legislation to make it happen."
On Monday Mr Key said his opposition to the bill was not inconsistent.
The party "unquestionably" supported provisions in the CYPF bill which extended Youth Court residential orders, "and if the bill failed we would implement that policy in Government".
However, it was opposed to other changes in the bill which will raise the Youth Court jurisdiction from 16-year-olds to 17-year-olds.
"The overriding factor is we won't vote for legislation which means 17-year-olds won't be tried by adult courts. They're doing adult crimes and should face adult sentences."
Minister of Social Development Ruth Dyson has said it was necessary to include 17-year-olds as "young persons" to meet New Zealand's obligations under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
The bill also contains numerous other broad-ranging amendments to the main CYPF Act, including extending protection for people who "dob in" suspected child abuse.
National's CYPF spokeswoman Anne Tolley said the bill was "a missed opportunity" because it did not tackle child abuse rates. She said moving 17-year-olds into the Youth Court would add too much stress to the system.
The Green Party and Maori Party are yet to decide if they will support it.
Children Young Persons and the Families Amendment Act No 6:
* Changes the definition of a "young person" to include 17-year-olds for youth justice, and CYPF's care and protection reasons.
* Increases Youth Court powers to allow orders of custody for up to six months as well as up to 12 months supervision afterward.
* Increases to the less-serious "supervision with activity orders", in which youth offenders must undertake certain programmes or activities. The new bill also removes the need for the youth to consent before being put on a supervision with activity order.
* Extends protection for people who "dob in" child abusers or give information during an investigation.
* Requires more account to be taken of the views of the child in care and protection proceedings affecting them.
* Better victims' rights, including participation in family conferences.
