AARON GILMORE (National) : I rise to support the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill. This bill is about the rubber hitting the road or, more important, the Minister of Police standing up to do something about stopping some of that. This bill is a step along the path of doing something about that activity, and about the 10 deaths per year that are reported to be the result of illegal street racing. It will help to stop and get rid of a persistent core group, and do something about those who take away lives. The horrific costs to society of illegal street racing are estimated to be in excess of $30 million per annum. That is outlined in the regulatory impact statement, but it was not touched on by any speaker here tonight. As awful as that may be, it is also the case that these actions lead to other important things for those who survive: fear, pain, and suffering. There are cases such as the bottle attack on a lone police officer in Wigram, which we have heard about tonight, and the spineless attack last week on an aviation security officer behind Christchurch International Airport. This bill will not stop these incidents. It will not stop the thuggery completely, but it may just save the life of someone we love or know, or maybe it will just save those people from experiencing the pain, suffering, or fear caused by such activity.

This bill amends three Acts, as was mentioned earlier: the Privacy Act, the Summary Proceedings Act, and the Sentencing Act. To achieve this there will be some costs. The Greens mentioned earlier some of these costs, and they focused on that issue as a reason why this bill should not go ahead. It is estimated that in excess of 3,000 vehicles per annum will be seized, which is up from the current 1,000 vehicles per annum. The additional cost of this to the Crown will be a little under $2 million. If that saves one life or two lives, is that worth it? I think so. It may save 10 lives. If it saves 10 lives, is it worth it? I think so.

We heard members opposite also talk about how the finance companies may make decisions and change how they finance the cars owned by these people. How will they do that? It will be just like what insurance companies do with regard to insurance. Actuaries calculate the risk that exists for people, in order to change their behaviour. That is what actuaries do best; they will calculate the probability of the risks around whether boy racers may or may not participate in that activity and cause problems and issues down the track.

This bill will take away some of the rights of those people, some of those who cause us pain and fear. I am told by the police that many of the boy racers in Christchurch come from my side of town and head to the west side of town, where my colleague Amy Adams lives. Some of these people I knew; some of them have passed away, murdered in some way by boy racers. Some of these people I grew up with. Some of them still drive these cars. And some of them, I hope, may change their behaviour as a result of these laws. Some of them may not. This bill will not harm the rights of the good, law-abiding citizens who appreciate the artistry of fine automobiles or take part in car rallies. But it will deal with some of the innate fear and hatred that exists regarding boy racers.

One of the members on the other side of the Chamber spoke tonight of being the only member who has experienced the thuggery of those people. Since that member spoke, many other members have spoken about it. I have experienced it as well; so have all the other members of this House, to varying degrees. Some members have simply had their sleep ruined; some have had more permanent scars—some emotional, some physical. If this bill, by removing some cars off our streets and by crushing a few cars, takes boy racers’ pride and joy off the streets, I say let us do it. It will not make the problem go away entirely, but it may make it better. It may save one life or two lives, or it may save more than that. It may save pain and suffering for a loved one in the future. Many people have young children, as I do, and this measure may save them from being impacted on by these thugs in the future. If this bill does that, I say it is a good bill. I look forward to this bill being enacted.

The speaker who has just resumed her seat spoke about why not enough confiscation and impounding of cars by the police have occurred. I tell that member I sat in a meeting about 4 or 5 months ago with district commander Cliff of the Christchurch police, and with the member from Waimakariri and the member from Christchurch Central. In that meeting it was outlined why the current impounding does not work—and it does not work currently. Mr Cosgrove did not believe Superintendent Cliff, but I back the police over why this law change needs to go ahead. It is because the current law does not work.

I look forward to this bill being enacted, and I look forward to some of the changes that it may bring about. As a member opposite said, it is worth giving it a go.