Key ministries withheld support for the government’s move-on orders, housing and justice ministers confirmed.
Police will gain broader powers to issue move-on orders to rough sleepers, beggars, and those displaying disorderly behaviour in public areas.
Chris Bishop stated the Housing Ministry did not back the government’s move-on orders, while Paul Goldsmith noted the Justice Ministry has not enthusiastically supported most of the government’s law-and-order policies.
“But that’s not who was elected. We were elected, and that’s why we’re pushing on with what we’ve done,” Goldsmith said.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop confirmed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) was consulted on move-on orders, but “it won’t surprise you to learn they weren’t supportive.”
“But ultimately, officials provide their views, and the government takes the advice and makes decisions.”
“You don’t necessarily need to agree.”
Bishop said MHUD raised concerns from a “housing instability” perspective, calling it a “completely legitimate viewpoint.”
Bishop acknowledged it was legitimate to question where people would be moved to, but stressed that those in unstable housing, sleeping rough, or “causing a bit of mischief in the CBD” should receive the necessary support elsewhere.
“We’ve made that support available. And if we need to do more, we can,” he said.
When asked about the Justice Ministry’s advice on move-on orders, Goldsmith said he couldn’t recall the “preferred option” off the top of his head.
“They pointed out a range of opinions, and the government had its view that it wanted to progress these move-on orders, and that’s what we’re doing.”
“We’ve got a clear mandate to restore law and order,” he said, citing the gang patch ban, tougher sentencing, and the end of Section 27 cultural reports.
“None of these things the ministry was enthusiastic about, but that’s what we’ve got an obligation to do.”
He noted official advice remains valuable and the government weighs it alongside opinions and “other information,” such as input from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Retail Crime.