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A bill to help hold partners complicit in welfare fraud to account has passed its second reading in Parliament today.

“While the overwhelming majority of people receiving welfare support are honest and follow the rules, a tiny minority think they can get away with ripping off the taxpayer, and we’re going to hold them to account,” says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows has today indicated that he will be recommending that the Governor General remove Justice of the Peace Daljit Singh from office, following his conviction in the Auckland High Court for electoral fraud.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today announced the appointment of Mr Rex Maidment as the Legal Complaints Review Officer. He also announced the reappointment of Deputy Legal Complaints Review Officer, Mr Owen Vaughan.

“Mr Maidment has been very successful as Principal Tenancy Adjudicator over the past six years and his person attributes, skills and experience will be invaluable in his new role,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows is urging community groups with innovative ideas to tackle youth crime in their area to apply now for the Youth Crime Action Plan’s innovation fund.

The new fund, part of the Government’s Youth Crime Action Plan, will provide grants to groups and organisations with new ideas for reducing youth crime.  Applications for the first round of funding close on Friday 14 February.

People with unpaid fines or reparation for traffic-related offences could find themselves barred from driving under powerful new sanctions which come into effect this month, Courts Minister Chester Borrows says.

From Monday 17 February ‘Driver Licence Stop Orders’ (DLSOs) can be imposed on anyone who fails to pay traffic-related fines imposed on them by a Court, Police or a local government authority – or a reparation order imposed on them by a Court – for a traffic-related offence.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows says students who have yet to apply for their 2014 Student Loan or Allowance now risk not getting their payments sorted by their study start date.

Mr Borrows says StudyLink has worked hard to make sure students are aware of the consequences of leaving things to the last minute.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows today announced the expansion of education services in youth justice residences, to provide on-going education over the summer break.

Up until now, schools at residences followed the standard term breaks of any other school. Now, there will be structured educational programmes except for two weeks over Christmas.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the resumption of the online publication of key Disputes Tribunal decisions.

“My number one goal as Minister for Courts has been to bring our courts and tribunals into the 21st century, and putting Disputes Tribunal decisions back online is another step on that journey,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today announced the opening of applications to a new Government initiative that will make funding available for fresh new approaches to reducing offending by young people.

The new fund, part of the Government’s Youth Crime Action Plan, will provide grants to groups and organisations with innovative ideas for reducing youth crime.

“The way we work with communities on youth justice is a key part of the Action Plan,” says Mr Borrows.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the new audio visual link (AVL) connection linking New Plymouth Court with Whanganui Prison.

The new link is the first in a $27.8 million upgrade programme, which is expanding AVL links from the current four courts and four prisons to a total of 18 courts and 13 prisons by 2015.

Mrs Tolley says around 40,000 remand court appearances are made each year nationwide, and AVL will be used for more and more of those appearances as the rollout continues.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows is urging students to apply for their 2014 Student Loan and Allowance by Monday 16 December.

“This year StudyLink has been very clear that the best way for students to make sure their financial support is sorted when they start studying is by applying by December 16,” says Mr Borrows.

Greater certainty around court scheduling will give parties more clarity as to their court dates and improve the way we use our court and judicial resources, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

“A court case can’t proceed without everyone present – lawyers, defendants, witnesses and a judge – and too often this results in delays in cases getting to court and courtrooms sitting idle,” says Mr Borrows.

“It takes too long to get a case through our criminal courts, and any unnecessary delay should not go unchecked.”

More than 5300 illegitimate benefits have now been stopped by enhanced information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

These benefits were costing the taxpayer at least $56 million per year.

“While the vast majority of beneficiaries do the right thing and let us know about their circumstances it is disappointing to see that some people continue to break the law and take money they’re not entitled to,” says Mr Borrows.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows says that the Government is determined to deliver a modern, electronic court.

“Transitioning our courts from their antiquated, paper-bound way of working into a modern, electronic model is a huge challenge that offers huge benefits for a faster court system,” says Mr Borrows.

“We’ve already made significant progress, with more and more court services now available online.  We’ve also learnt a lot about what we need, and what better technology can give us.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will this week represent New Zealand at the Sixth Bali Democracy Forum, hosted by the Government of Indonesia.

The Forum will bring together Heads of State and ministers from 28 countries from around the world to discuss ways to strengthen democratic institutions across the region.

“New Zealand has a strong democratic history that is more than just a set of laws, but an integral part of our Kiwi culture,” says Mr Borrows.

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today released the Youth Crime Action Plan, which aims to reduce offending by children and young people over the next ten years.

“New Zealand’s youth justice system is one of the best in the world, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” says Mr Borrows.

“This plan brings together the gains we’ve made in youth justice recently, through initiatives like our Fresh Start reforms, Policing Excellence and the Children’s Action Plan, and looks at the gaps, challenges and opportunities that remain.

Further improvements to make the coronial system clearer and easier for families were announced today by Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes make it easier for the public to find out how coroners are appointed and how possible conflicts of interest are managed, improve sensitivity in the way families are consulted if tissue samples need to be retained following a post-mortem examination, and clarify when deaths of New Zealanders overseas need to be reported to a New Zealand coroner.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the start of new measures to prevent beneficiaries who have previously ripped off Work and Income from cheating the system again.

“We know the overwhelming majority of beneficiaries are honest and follow the rules,” says Mr Borrows.

“Yet those very few who choose to defraud the system place a very real cost on a system which should be there to support our most vulnerable citizens.”

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will depart for the United Kingdom today to address the Restorative Justice Council’s Annual General Meeting.

“Restorative justice is a growing field in responding to crime, with huge benefits for the victim and for society,” says Mr Borrows.

“The Restorative Justice Council’s AGM will be a great opportunity to share ideas and experiences with our international colleagues.”

Legislation to ensure that both parties in relationship welfare fraud are held to account passed its first reading in Parliament today.

“We know the overwhelming majority of beneficiaries are honest and follow the rules,” says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

“Yet those very few who chose to defraud the system place a very real cost on a system which should be there to support our most vulnerable citizens.”

New mandatory training regulations for the security industry announced today will ensure security personnel have the skills to do their job safely, says Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows.

“The security industry does an important job and the public rely on them for their safety,” says Mr Borrows.

“The new training requirements we’re announcing today will ensure security personnel have the skills they need to work safely and effectively.”

Another strong year for court collections has driven the level of fines and reparations owed to their lowest level in almost a decade, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the return of jury trials to Dunedin with the temporary Dunedin Court complex in High Street set to open on Monday.

Parts of the Dunedin Courthouse were closed in December 2011 after a seismic assessment raised concerns about the building’s safety. Since the closure, jury trials have been held in Invercargill, while some court services operated out of John Wickliffe House and the former CIB building in Dunbar St.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has slammed opposition claims that welfare fraudsters are treated more severely than tax fraudsters.

“The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has a duty to take care with taxpayer money. When they find evidence someone has fraudulently taken money they are not entitled to, they will prosecute, and make no apologies for that,” says Mr Borrows.