ACT MP David Garrett says New Zealand is a safer place now the three-strikes sentencing legislation has been passed.
Under the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill passed on Tuesday night, offenders will automatically receive the maximum sentence for a third serious violent offence with no chance of parole.
Mr Garrett says the bill is not about locking people up and throwing away the key, but about making communities safer.
The bill passed its final reading in Parliament by 63 votes to 58 on Tuesday. It was opposed by the Labour, Green and Maori parties.
Police Minister Judith Collins says the bill will keep the worst recidivists out of the community. She says it is aimed at the most violent repeat offenders, who simply cannot be let out.
However, Ms Collins thinks it will take five to 10 years until the full effect of the sentencing regime is evident.
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says Mr Garrett can provide no proof that the measure will reduce crime.
