9. Justice System—Three-strikes LegislationHon MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) to the Minister of JusticeJustice System—Three-strikes Legislation9. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by all his Government's justice policies and decisions?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Yes.Hon Mark Mitchell: Does he stand by his statement that the three-strikes law is an absolutely absurd law the high-water mark of policy stupidity"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes.Hon Mark Mitchell: What is his view of the statement made by New Zealand First justice spokesperson Darroch Ball who said in relation to the three-strikes reform "The law provides a firm framework to deter recidivism"—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister is not responsible for Mr Ball's views at all.SPEAKER: That's a fair comment. I apologise for letting the question go. I'll let the member rephrase it.Hon Mark Mitchell: Has the justice Minister seen any reports or press releases from New Zealand First justice spokesperson Darroch Ball who has said in relation to the three-strikes reform "The law provides a firm framework to deter recidivism and sends a clear message to our most serious offenders"?Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think the question was closer but the Minister has no responsibility for press releases issued by another political party.SPEAKER: But the question wasn't that; it was whether he'd seen it or not. And we've had a number of instances today where supplementary questions have asked Ministers if they've seen reports. I am just going to take the opportunity to say—and I'll say it in particular and draw the attention of Amy Adams. There's been a little bit of a growing habit which I've been slack about about asking Ministers to comment without asking if they've seen reports. The wording which I let through for her question No.3 today and a number of supplementaries is going to be slightly tightened up on going forward. And I'd be happy to discuss it with the Clerk's Office. I'd be happy discuss it with people responsible for lodging questions. We are going to be tighter about ministerial responsibility especially for primary questions. Now if the member can remember the question?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes I have seen that report.Hon Mark Mitchell: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Maybe I should have included the first part of the question—SPEAKER: No. You had a chance to rephrase it. You've rephrased and you've had a full answer not just addressing the question but a full answer.Hon Mark Mitchell: What's his view of the report?Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister may have seen it; it doesn't mean he has responsibility for it and therefore being asked his view on it is outside of his ministerial responsibility.Hon Gerry Brownlee: In the previous question there was a question to the transport Minister asking him what the alternatives would be if there was not a fuel tax and the Minister chose to answer that. So presumably he'd read some information that gave him the information he needed to answer that. The question here to Mr Little is simply now that there's been an acknowledgment that he has seen the report—presumably he's read it—does he have a view on it? Now that's not unreasonable.SPEAKER: Absolutely. The idea that a Minister can't have an opinion on something in his portfolio that he's read would be protecting the Minister too much.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Thank you Mr Speaker. My view is that that is Mr Ball's genuinely held view.Hon Mark Mitchell: Did he advance his Cabinet paper which included the repeal of three-strikes legislation through the correct process including Cabinet committee with the support of New Zealand First?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The position that we got to last week was that I made the decision to withdraw the paper and any further reference to the full Cabinet. The reality is when it comes to Government policy it is the final decision of Cabinet that matters and that is what has happened in the last few days.Hon Mark Mitchell: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. If I could seek your guidance on this that was a very clear question—short and concise. I don't think the Minister has actually answered it.SPEAKER: Ask it again and I'll make—Hon Mark Mitchell: Did he advance his Cabinet paper which included the repeal of the three-strikes legislation through the correct process including Cabinet committee with the support of New Zealand First?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The paper went through all relevant stages until last week when I made the judgment to withdraw the paper from final Cabinet consideration because that is the way Government decision-making works.Hon Mark Mitchell: Is he relieved to hear in the House today the Deputy Prime Minister state on behalf of the Prime Minister that three-strikes is still on the table?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It's not a question of relief—SPEAKER: Order! I'm just going to cut the member down now and ask the member to start again. The answer was the Prime Minister stating—all right—and I'll get the member to rephrase it. It's important that we get these things right because we're about to have a change.Hon Mark Mitchell: Is he relieved to hear in the House today the Prime Minister state that three strikes is still on the table?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It's not a question of being relieved about anything that the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister standing in for the Prime Minister has said or believes. The Deputy Prime Minister is a man of considerable and astute wisdom and he has brought that to bear in his answers to the House today and he is right."