Jail terms policy bottom-line: Act

WELLINGTON - Act drew another line in the sand yesterday, making its stance on longer sentences for criminals a "bottom-line" policy in a coalition with National.

It is the second time during the campaign that Act leader Richard Prebble has made one of the party's policies a condition of forming a coalition.

Two weeks ago, Mr Prebble, who has said his preference is for Act to remain on the cross-benches of Parliament, made the party's time limit on settling Treaty of Waitangi grievances "a non-negotiable in any government of which Act is a part."

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said arbitrary deadlines were not needed.

Mr Prebble yesterday restated his party's law and order policy and said that if Act were part of the new Government, his Truth in Sentencing Bill would be one of the first laws passed.

"Act has made Truth in Sentencing a bottom-line coalition policy," he said.

Justice Minister Tony Ryall said specific policies would be discussed by National and Act in coalition talks after the election.

However, the two parties could work together as both supported tougher penalties for crime.

Mr Prebble said he was prepared to discuss the law and order policy but it would be "pretty hard" to form a government with National if it was not prepared to toughen policy on sentencing.

He would be amazed if National did turn its back on tougher sentencing because it would find that stance "fairly hard to defend" to voters.

Mr Prebble also said the parole system had failed and parole boards should be abolished.

He chose Bolton St Memorial Park, the Wellington graveyard where Peter Howse abducted and sexually violated a Canadian tourist in March 1997 while on parole for murder, to restate his party's law and order policy.

In Invercargill yesterday afternoon, he raised the plight of the Lawton family, who left town after Mongrel Mob member Charles Te Kahu firebombed their home.

Mr Prebble said he had heard father John Lawton say on television that at least his family were safe for six years after Te Kahu received a six-year jail sentence.

But under the law, Te Kahu could be free in just two years.

Mr Prebble said every offender should serve at least 80 per cent of his or her sentence.

- NZPA