Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12847] 
5.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Justice 
: Does she stand by her statement last week that “I am determined to keep a focus on victims right at the forefront of my approach in this portfolio.”? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice) 
: 
 Yes. Victims’ rights have been enhanced considerably since this Labour-led Government came to office and I have already asked Ministry of Justice officials to provide me with advice in respect of further initiatives that can be undertaken in this area. 
Simon Power 
: Can the Minister confirm that under the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 of the $91408.11 in prisoner compensation that has been paid into the victims’ claims trust account to date only one victim has made a successful claim for $9500 but four inmates have been paid out a total of $32383.83; if so why? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes I can confirm that is the case. I can also confirm that the Criminal Justice Reform Bill extends the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act to 2010 to allow more time for claims to be made by victims. 
Simon Power 
: Does she stand by her predecessor Phil Goff’s claim that the legislation would “restrict compensation for inmates to exceptional cases” and that in those cases it “maximises the prospect that victims will be the beneficiaries” and how does that square with a system where to date almost 80 percent of the amount paid out has still gone to offenders? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I think it is fair to say that we would prefer to see victims receive the compensation and that is one of the reasons why there is an extended time—for victims to be able to make claims. But I would also add that it is under this Government that we have seen rights being given to victims. When one considers that it was under this Government that victims’ rights were actually put into law in the Victims’ Rights Act 2002—5 years ago—and that there were many years in which a National Government could have put those rights into law but did not I stand by our record of trying to redress the imbalance between victims and offenders. 
Ann Hartley 
: What reports has she seen on enhancing victims’ rights? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I looked at the speech John Key gave last week on law and order to see what he had to say on this subject and I have to tell the House I was very disappointed indeed because all I found was a slur on the work of the New Zealand Police when it came to victims. The police as everybody knows are the first point of contact for victims and I believe they do a magnificent job. Mr Key obviously does not think that is the case because he says that he wants them to take family violence seriously. Well I believe the police do take family violence seriously and it is difficult work that they do. Rather than their being kicked by politicians for the sake of cheap political point scoring I would have expected some more support. 
Simon Power 
: Does the Minister stand by her predecessor Phil Goff’s claim that the 2005 legislation would provide a strong disincentive for any offenders who might be encouraged by other payouts to make a compensation claim themselves; if so how does she explain the fact that in the last year alone inmates have made claims for compensation totalling more than $1.2 million? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I do stand by that claim because if a change had not been made considerably more compensation could have been paid out under the previous regime. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those answers and the obvious importance of the police to an effective justice system will the Minister inform us of what recent reports she has seen regarding the Government’s commitment to recruit 1250 extra police during this term of Parliament as a result of the confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think that is outside the ministerial responsibility. That question is better directed to the Minister of Police than the Minister of Justice. Would the member wish to have the opportunity to bring the question within the ministerial responsibility? 
Peter Brown 
: I take your point Madam Speaker but I suggest that the questions and answers going across the House are about criminals and the justice system and the police are an integral important part of that. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Don’t argue! 
Peter Brown 
: Well the members over there wanted a computer to replace about 600 police officers as I recall. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. Maybe the member would like an opportunity to reconsider. 
Simon Power 
: Does she stand by the claim in 2005 of the Associate Minister of Justice Rick Barker that Labour would establish a new independent prisoner complaints body by the end of 2006 to reduce the likelihood of future damages claims arising; and in light of the $1.2 million in claims in the last year alone why has the establishment of that body taken so long—for simply giving the Ombudsman wider jurisdiction in terms of what they already do hardly counts as a new body? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I do not believe that most New Zealanders see the changes to the role of the Ombudsman in that way at all. In fact the enhanced role has been welcomed. 
Simon Power 
: How can she continue to support a compensation regime that has given more money to inmates than to victims and why did she vote only a matter of months ago to extend it for another 3 years? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I do not know whether the member was listening to the previous answers but I think that on two occasions I said that it was to allow more time for claims to be made by victims. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those earlier answers and the obvious importance of law and order to an effective and efficient justice system for victims’ rights will the Minister inform us of what recent reports she has seen in terms of running and administering an efficient law and order system? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is pretty general but the Minister may answer. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: There are many parts to the justice system as has already been pointed out. As I have pointed out I have seen Mr Key’s speech on law and order. It made almost no mention of victims’ rights at all so so much for the crocodile tears we are seeing today! I can assure this House that by the time National members get round to drip-feeding their policy which they have said they will do our policy will be well bedded in because we have not only policy but legislation. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: You’ve had 8 years. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes we have had 8 years and in those 8 years we have already put in 1500 additional police and 1250 additional police staff are going in. Now we know after 18 months of constant criticism from National that Mr Key supports our drive for additional police. Having tried to destroy the whole programme he has finally woken up to the fact that we needed those police.