The Law and Order Committee has reported back [PDF] on the Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill and recommended it be passed, despite a declaration that it is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act from the Attorney-General and overwhelming public opposition in submissions. The latter is significant - of the 54 submissions, 50 were opposed, and only two in favour. And this on a bill which should be red meat to the hate-filled hypocrites in the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
If Parliament passes this bill, we will be effectively derogating from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN Human Rights Committee has already ruled that a blanket ban on prisoners voting is inconsistent with the right to vote we have given our word to protect. Passing the law will therefore mean the shame of violating human rights on the international stage, as well as the humiliation of a formal complaint under the Covenant's Optional Protocol.
Not that any of this will stop National. We've already seem from ECan and "three strikes" that they have utter contempt for democracy and human rights. And they'll stomp all over both if they think it'll get them "tough on crime" headlines and a few votes from rednecks.
