Brash to push parent penalties

Don Brash

National proposes to punish parents for their children's crimes in a hard-hitting youth justice policy expected to be outlined by party leader Don Brash today.

Parents could be slapped with Youth Court orders requiring them to take specified steps to change their child's behaviour and fined if they ignore the order.

The National caucus has been wary of proposing the "parenting orders" Dr Brash will announce today, fearing they could be seen as too punitive.

Such orders, which would be made by Youth Court judges, are already used in Britain, where it is claimed they have helped to halve youth offending.

But when put forward in Australia, they were criticised by single mothers in particular, who argued they would be targeted while absent fathers escaped.

In an attempt to counter perceptions that his approach is too harsh, Dr Brash will today also raise concerns about bullying in schools.

Under the Youth Court plan parents could voluntarily agree to the orders or the judges could make a compulsory order.

They could involve requiring parents to seek help for drug and alcohol addictions or to take anger management classes.

Counselling or guidance sessions that could include parenting skills classes could also be compulsory for parents.

The judges could also order them to enforce curfews on renegade children and ensure they did not play truant.

If parents failed to comply they could be given fines worth several thousand dollars - based on the 1000 fines used in Britain - or be sentenced to community work.

The plan is designed to target young repeat offenders, who National believes need different treatment than their counterparts, who might offend only once or twice.
The party has already promised to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 as part of its desire to get tougher on those repeat offenders.

The plan involves expanding the powers of the Youth Court.

National is placing its hopes of a poll revival on law and order, as well as welfare and Treaty of Waitangi issues. But having announced the bulk of those policies, the party got no encouragement from a TVNZ Colmar-Brunton poll last night.

It revealed the surge in support for the party after Dr Brash's Orewa speech on welfare was short-lived.

Last month the poll had just five percentage points between the two big parties, but yesterday's showed the gap had widened again to 11 points, with Labour recording 46 per cent support and National 35.

Equally bad for National are the preferred prime minister ratings, which show Helen Clark steady on 40 per cent support but Dr Brash still sliding and now polling just 16 per cent.

Fuelling National's concern is the fear that Labour will call an election before September.

Helen Clark called a July election in 2002, catching a number of parties ill-prepared.

National is working on the assumption that she will call a July election - possibly July 12.

The Colmar-Brunton findings that pessimism over the economic outlook has risen by 10 per cent will add further weight to National's belief that Labour - aware that interest rates may rise again - will go to the polls early.

Helen Clark's spokesman yesterday downplayed talk of an early election, saying it was still expected to be held in September.

Dr Brash said last night that he was "not terribly surprised" by the poll results, saying they reflected a buoyant economy.

But deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said it was "disappointing. We have performed very well in the House over the last eight weeks".

He said voters were less focused on politics than during an election campaign, when they would take a greater interest in what National was offering.

National's plans

* Parents of young offenders could be fined for not enforcing curfews or other court orders.

* Parents could be forced into drug and alcohol addiction programmes if needed.