A government bill that makes it more difficult for the worst violent offenders to get parole was given its first reading in Parliament tonight.
The Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill also contains the ACT Party's "three strikes" policy, which the Government is committed to supporting on a first reading.
Justice Minister Simon Power said offenders sentenced to five years or more for a violent or sex offence would not be eligible for parole if they had previously received a sentence of five years or more.
"If they are convicted or murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, they will serve the sentence in full and will not be eligible for parole," he said.
ACT's "three strikes" means an automatic life sentence with no parole on conviction for a third very serious offence if the offender has previously been sentenced to two five year terms.
Labour is not supporting the bill.
Law and order spokesman Clayton Cosgrove said it was a fraud because the "three strikes" would not affect anyone for at least 15 years.
He said that ACT did not tell voters before the election that the legislation would be not be retrospective.
"This will have no effect on any person in the justice system for 15 years," he said.
"ACT gave the impression that immediately it was passed the world would change."
He said the fact that the Government was not committed to supporting it beyond a first reading was "a damning indictment" of the policy.
The bill passed its first reading 64-58 and was sent to the law and order select committee for public submissions.
