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2006-0113 - peterellis.org.nz
- Sex abuse hysteria obviously still a problem
The New Zealand sex
abuse moral panic shows no sign of abating. An obvious sign of this was the
reluctance of Parliamentarians to make a stand against a nonsensical new law
that puts professional drivers out of work...... The sex abuse witchhunt will
not end until our political leaders have the moral courage to say enough is
enough. Sex abuse is a serious offence, but surely those guilty of historical
consensual sex with a girl two days short of her 16th birthday, should not be
treated as worse than murderers
2006-0113 - United Future
Party - Driver sex cases breach Bill of Rights Act
by Peter Dunne - United Future leader Peter Dunne pointed out today
that the legislation that will cause some bus drivers to lose their jobs, because
of minor sexual offences committed several decades ago, appears to breach the
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. "Section 26 states that 'No one who
has been finally acquitted or convicted of, or pardoned for, an offence shall
be tried or punished for it again,' " he said.
2006-0113 - The Press - New law
forces driver to quit,
by Alan Wood - Kaiapoi
bus driver Beau Harrison will not be behind the wheel on Monday because of a
new law that dredges up his 40-year-old criminal conviction. Harrison is
close to retirement, but the Land Transport Amendment Act 2005, which comes
into force on Monday, will prematurely end his driving career.........Harrison
is being forced to cut his driving career short because of a short-term
relationship nearly 40 years ago. Now aged 62, he had all but forgotten about
his involvement with a young woman when they both worked in a North Island
shearing gang. He did not realise she was under 16, and was fined for
unlawful carnal knowledge
2006-0113 - One News -
Duynhoven back tracks over new law
The minister of transport safety Harry Duynhoven says new legislation
which will put professional drivers out of work for decades-old, low-level
sexual offences needs to be revisited. The Land Transport Amendment Act,
which comes into effect on Monday, stops people who've committed murder,
serious violent and sexual offences from being licensed to drive passengers
2006-0113 - NZ Herald -
Duynhoven to fine-tune bus law
by Simon O'Rourke - Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven is
promising to take a leadership role in revisiting a controversial law that
from Monday will see up to 400 bus and taxi drivers lose their right to
transport passengers. The livelihood of hundreds of bus and taxi drivers is
being taken away as the new legislation precluding certain criminal offenders
from holding a passenger transport licence ("P" endorsement) comes
into force. The Bus and Coach Association and Taxi Federation say many of
their members will be unfairly punished.
2006-0113 - Newzeal Blog - How
the Free Market Would Protect Your Daughter
by Trevor Loudon - So how would a free market approach improve the
situation? In a free society, taxi companies would hire staff, with full
access to applicants conviction records. The companies would be liable for
damages should one of their employees harm a passenger. To guard against
this, each company would carry public liability insurance. Insurance
companies and the taxi company would then have a real interest in assessing
the risk posed to the public by any prospective employee
2006-0113 - Newstalk ZB -
Reprieve for convicted bus and taxi drivers?
A possible reprieve for some bus and taxi drivers who will lose their
license when a controversial new law comes in on Monday. There has been
public outcry as drivers face losing their licenses over minor crimes
committed many years ago. Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven is now
promising to look at the issue
2006-0113 - Manawatu
Standard - Historic sex crimes hit professional drivers
by Grant Miller and NZPA - Several Palmerston North bus and taxi
drivers are believed to be among more than 200 nationwide who will be sidelined
from Monday for crimes they committed decades ago. Professional drivers with
serious convictions have been sent don't-come-Monday letters -- they will be
barred from transporting passengers when the Land Transport Amendment Act
comes into force next week. The Manawatu Standard spoke to staff at two
companies in Palmerston North and both confirmed they have drivers affected
by the legislation.
2006-0113 - Kiwi Blog - Licence
Farce continues
by David Farrar - The farce over the licence law continues. Now it
appears if you were once convicted of sodomy (when it was illegal) you might
also lose your passenger transport licence. Let this be a lesson to all MPs
about why you should not make laws retrospective unless the nation's vital
interests are at stake. You don't do it just to scratch an itch
2006-0113 - Green Party -
Greens warned of problem with bus and taxi licenses
by Keith Locke - The cases of bus and taxi drivers losing their
licenses for long-past minor sexual offences is exactly what the Green Party warned
would happen when the new land transport law was being debated last year,
Associate Transport Spokesperson Keith Locke says. The Greens supported the
Land Transport Amendment Bill last year because of the wide range of needed
administrative measures it contained. However Mike Ward put forward a
minority report at the Select Committee warning of the potential injustice
that has now come to pass. At the time, the Greens were criticised for being
‘soft on crime’ for their stand. Mr Locke has today sent Transport Safety
Minister Harry Dunyhoven a copy of Mr Ward’s proposed solution.
2006-0112 - Otago Daily Times -
Passenger tries to keep driver on the buses
 by John Lewis - One of bus driver
Lloyd Walsh’s passengers has started a petition to save his licence. Mr Walsh
(50) received notification from Land Transport New Zealand this week that his
passenger class licence would be suspended indefinitely for a conviction of
carnal knowledge. He was convicted of the offence when he was 16 after
sleeping with his girlfriend two days before her 16th birthday
Sharon McIntosh and Lloyd Walsh
2006-0112 - NZ Herald - Driver
anger at sex offence law grows
by Colin Marshall, NZPA - Bus and taxi drivers are today meeting to
discuss what they say is a nonsensical new law that will cost many their jobs
for "technical offences" committed decades ago. Land Transport New
Zealand last week wrote to 285 drivers saying their P (passenger)
endorsement licences would be suspended when the Land Transport Amendment Act
takes effect next Monday. Stories have emerged of people losing their licences
for decades-old crimes. A Dunedin bus driver's licence is being suspended
because as a 16-year-old 34 years ago, he slept with his 15-year-old
girlfriend, two days short of her 16th birthday.
2006-0112 - Newstalk ZB -
Top bus drivers struck by legislation
Bus companies are
concerned they are losing top employees because of new legislation.About 400
people will have their passenger-class licenses revoked next Monday with no
right of appeal because of previous criminal convictions for sexual offences.
2006-0111 - Stuff - Licence
suspended over 34-year-old crime
NZPA - A 50-year-old Dunedin bus driver is incensed after his
passenger-class licence was suspended by Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ)
for a conviction he received 34 years ago. Dunedin Passenger Transport bus
driver Lloyd Walsh returned from his summer holiday on Monday to find a
letter from LTNZ saying due to the conviction, his licence would be suspended
and he would have no right of appeal, the Otago Daily Times reported
yesterday
2006-0111 - Newstalk ZB -
LTNZ's hands tied over bus driver
Land Transport New Zealand says it sympathises with a Dunedin bus
driver who will lose his job because of a crime he committed as a teen. Thirty
four years ago Lloyd Walsh was convicted of unlawful carnal knowledge after
he slept with his girlfriend two days before her 16th birthday
2006-0111 - Newstalk ZB - Sacked
bus driver is at a loss
A bus driver removed from his duties because of a crime he committed
34 years ago is at a loss as to what he will do now. Lloyd Walsh will only be
able to drive his Dunedin Passenger Transport bus until next monday after
Land Transport New Zealand revoked his license because he broke the law when
he was 16. The 50-year-old solo father was convicted after sleeping with his
girlfriend at the time, who was two days off turning 16
2006-0111 - Newstalk ZB -
Driver suspended for decades-old sex crime
The employer of a bus driver whose license has been suspended for a
crime he committed 34 years ago says the government needs to rethink its
legislation. Dunedin Passenger Transport driver Lloyd Walsh was told by Land
Transport New Zealand this week his license will be suspended because of a
crime he committed when he was 16
2006-0110 - Otago Daily Times -
Long-time bus driver has licence suspended
by John Lewis - A 50-year-old Dunedin bus driver is incensed after his
passenger-class licence was suspended by Land Transport New Zealand for a
conviction he received 34 years ago. Dunedin Passenger Transport bus driver
Lloyd Walsh returned from his summer holiday yesterday to find a letter from
Land Transport New Zealand saying due to the conviction, his licence would be
suspended and he would have no right of appeal. Mr Walsh said he had been a
driver with Dunedin Passenger Transport for the past three years and the
suspension effectively ended his 29-year career. The suspension was unfair on
several levels, he said.
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