Nothing new in Brash youth plan says Goff

National's youth justice policy, which seeks to punish parents for breaching court orders imposed for the crimes of their children, is being downplayed by Labour.

But Justice Minister Phil Goff says the Government is monitoring a British system on which National based its punishment plan.

National leader Don Brash yesterday outlined a proposal for the Youth Court to issue "parenting orders" to parents whose children have been involved in crime or truancy.

He told a Tauranga audience the orders would require parents to attend regular counselling and parenting skills sessions.

Not complying with the orders would lead to a review meeting, a written warning, and then a $2500 fine or community work. The British version of the system is claimed to have helped to halve youth offending.

National would also lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 and family group conferences would be limited to two before having to face a Youth Court judge.

Mr Goff said there was little new in Dr Brash's speech, but the Government was monitoring the effects of the British parenting order system.

He said Family Courts could already order parents to pay reparation, remove children from parents' custody, issue non-association orders and require parents or their children to undergo counselling.

Prime Minister Helen Clark also questioned what was new, saying many issues around parental responsibility could already be dealt with through the Family Court.

NZ First leader Winston Peters accused National of pinching his party's policy and Green Party justice spokesman Nandor Tanczos said both the NZ First and National proposals were "simply absurd".

United Future leader Peter Dunne said parenting orders had long been his party's policy.

National's youth justice policy

* Introduce parenting orders allowing the Youth Court to order those whose children are involved in crime or truancy to attend courses and counselling. Not complying could lead parents to being fined $2500 or sentenced to community work.

* Lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 for serious offences.

* Limit family group conferences to two, after which the offender is referred to the Youth Court.