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Amendment paper Bill enacted Released 30 June 2010 | Hon David Parker

Courts (Remote Participation) Bill - Amendment paper No 149

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Amendment paper Bill enacted Released 30 June 2010 | Hon David Parker

Courts (Remote Participation) Bill - Amendment paper No 149

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No 149

House of Representatives

Supplementary Order Paper

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Courts (Remote Participation) Bill

Proposed amendment

Hon David Parker, in Committee, to move the following amendment:

Clause 9

To add the following new subclause:

  • “(2) Despite subsection (1), AVL must not be used in any criminal substantive matter for the appearance of the defendant unless the defendant consents to the use.”

Explanatory note

This amendment will prevent audio-visual links (AVL) being used for a criminal substantive matter except if the defendant consents to the use. The Bill as currently drafted denies defendants the fundamental right to be present at their own court hearings. This is a serious incursion on civil liberties and removes one of the key protections that New Zealanders have against the action of the State. Such an important right should only be abrogated when it is demonstrably justifiable, and the Government has failed to put forward evidence that meets this test.

Amendment paper Bill enacted Released 30 June 2010

Courts (Remote Participation) Bill - Amendment paper No 149

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