Members Bills Progress, Blue Says Goodbye

A bill banning gang patches in public building has made progress in Parliament.

Todd McClay, who sponsored the Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill, said gangs were a scourge on society and changes made in select committee would mean the ban on gang insignia would now include every school.

Gang patches were a method of intimidation and should not be tolerated especially in public institutions, he said.

Labour’s Kris Fafoi said the bill would not deal with the problems caused by gangs and was just to give the appearance the Govt was doing something.

The bill completed its second reading by 69 to 51 with National, NZ First, ACT, United Future and Brendon Horan in favour.

Jackie Blue then gave her valedictory speech.

Blue said she had become involved in the National Party after meeting Bill and Mary English and outline her interest and passion for health issues and in particular the treatment of breast cancer.

She cited the extension of Herceptin treatment as one of her proudest moments.

Blue is moving on to become the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.

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