Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino-Kiwi Member of Parliament, has marked another milestone by delivering his first opinion in the New Zealand Parliament. MP Garcia chose to speak on a Bill that affects the New Zealand youth.
MP Paulo Garcia registered his first opinion on the second reading of the Oranga Tamariki Legislation Bill. The bill proposes to allow youth in conflict with the law to remain in the youth justice system instead of being charged in adult courts.
Garcia’s first time to speak after his maiden statement in Parliament was to register his support to the bill he described as “the program for a more child-centered care and protection-focused system.”
The former Consul General of the Philippines for Auckland and now National Party member is known for his support to child and family welfare. Paulo Garcia said in his opinion that the aim of the bill is “to prevent trauma and provide early intervention as much as possible.”
“This helps change the lives of young people and give them more opportunities to improve,” said Garcia.
Garcia, a lawyer prior to his election into Parliament in May 2019, told Parliament, “I think the bill is especially laudable and praiseworthy for the fact that it prevents the risk of processes being done twice.
“All the persons involved, the complainant, the families of the complainant, and the accused themselves, (will need) to relive the processing of the offense.
“As a formerly practicing lawyer for many years, I do understand the damage that’s done in going through the processes of the court system.
“While it is there for everyone’s betterment, the trauma that it does for everyone that goes through it is extreme. And this bill seeks to avoid that – it is very, very good.
“I would like to point out that its main valuable contribution is the fact that it avoids further trauma and that it provides our young people to have a bit of control over the destiny that they have and that they face,” MP Paulo Garcia said towards the end of his 5-minute speech which was delivered on June 11.
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WATCH MP Paulo Garcia deliver his first opinion in Parliament and TELL US your thoughts about his speech.
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