Let the truth speak for itself

Stephen Franks Monday, 22 August 2005 Press Releases - Crime & Justice

ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today applauded the new Staff Check service, which will let employers, know about the previous sackings of crooked jobseekers.

"It is an example of ACT policy in practical action. The difference is that under our policy criminal records would be public anyway, so that people would not have to pay a private business for the truth.

"I only hope Staff Check have done their homework on Labour's lawmaking plans, as well as on the crooks they expose. Their business could have a short useful life if Labour gets back to power.

"CTU head Ross Wilson and powerful Engineers Union boss Andrew Little have both condemned the service. We know they don't care about the hoops of fire employers are forced to go through to get rid of crooks, but what twisted morality lets them put the interests of bludgers, thieves and liars ahead of the honest workers forced to work alongside them.

"Staff Check should take the risk of a law change very seriously. Labour jumps to union commands and both Labour and the unions have made their support for thuggish and dishonest workers very plain," Mr Franks said.

"Three years ago when Justice Minister Phil Goff pushed through his Clean Slate Act to suppress the criminal records of over 500,000 offenders, it was strongly supported by the unions. The Human Rights Commission urged that the law be changed to make it illegal to favour non-criminals ahead of criminals.

"People should feel ashamed when they have betrayed trust. They should have to worry about their reputations when thinking about preying on their neighbours or their employers.

"ACT believes that we will never overcome our current crime wave with prisons and formal punishments alone. Reliance on imprisonment will only reduce when the government stops interfering with the normal social sanctions of any healthy society and the community is allowed to know the truth about those who want us to deal with them or to support them.

"The law should stop separating criminal causes from consequences.

"Under ACT's open justice policy, criminal families will learn that once again they have to earn the trust of their neighbours. They will not be able to rely on the Labour and National practice of hiding criminals in unsuspecting innocent communities.

"ACT is a risk to Staff Check's business. We will make it unnecessary," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

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