Justice Minister Simon Power says he supports the idea of increasing sentences for animal cruelty offences but says proportionality for crimes against people needs to be kept.Caucus is to consider adopting Tauranga MP Simon Bridges' member's bill to incre
Justice Minister Simon Power says he supports the idea of increasing sentences for animal cruelty offences but says proportionality for crimes against people needs to be kept.
Caucus is to consider adopting Tauranga MP Simon Bridges' member's bill to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty from three to five years as a Government bill. Prime Minister John Key yesterday said that was likely to happen.
"I am happy to support the bill," Mr Power told reporters when going into caucus this morning.
"It is important that proportionality remains. And I will be making sure that's factored into any decisions."
He is reviewing Part 8 of the Crimes Act which covers offences against the person and is doing work on increasing sentences for offences against children.
Asked if some criminal sentences might be increased to preserve proportionality, Mr Power said: "If the bill goes to a select committee I am sure all of that will come out."
Meanwhile, Mr Bridges said on his way into caucus was that he was there to hear his senior colleagues' views.
"Obviously it's something that I feel is important and I have made that clear by making this a member's bill," he said.
"I think it sends a strong message to the judiciary about animal cruelty and I think you really would see a ratcheting up of sentencing. When you increase the sentence what you do is send a clear message and the judiciary is not immune to picking up those messages and they would hear that I think."
If the bill was adopted it could go onto Parliament's agenda immediately and could be debated later this month.
There have been recent high profile cases of cruelty to animals, including the slaughter of 33 dogs near Wellsford, north of Auckland, last week.
The Labour Party says it supports the bill in principle and the Greens are also in favour of it.
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said yesterday the Government should also make cruel practices like keeping pigs in crates and chickens in battery cages illegal.
"We need to make certain that any legislation covers all forms of animal abuse, including institutional abuse such as keeping pigs and hens in cages for the duration of their lives -- those practices are legal," she said.
Farmers also should be punished for individual cases of cruelty, she said.
There had been several cases of farmers starving cattle but escaping with fines or community sentences.
Very few cases of animal cruelty have resulted in prosecutions -- about 1 percent of cases -- and only 3 percent of that group get jail sentences.
National is holding an all-day caucus meeting today at Premier House, Mr Key's official residence.
MPs will be told about the Government's plans for the year and its thinking on issues like changes to the tax system.
