10. Question No. 10—JusticeGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 10—Justice10. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Justice: What recent reports has the Minister received on the family justice system?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): On Sunday I received and welcomed the release of the independent panel's review of the 2014 family justice system reforms. From the report it's clear that those reforms championed by Judith Collins haven't worked as intended. The report showed there's been considerable dissatisfaction in the current family justice system. The panel in putting together its report attended over 100 meetings held in 15 locations around the country and received over 500 submissions so their findings are authoritative.Ginny Andersen: What is the independent panel's assessment of the changes made in 2014 to the family justice system?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The 2014 reforms championed by Judith Collins made significant changes to the family justice system including introducing family dispute resolution and removing lawyers from the early stages of many Family Court proceedings. These changes were meant to make things easier for families at a difficult time in their lives but they've had the opposite effect. Cases are taking longer to resolve and many family members involved in the court processes say they are not well supported. The 2014 reforms saw an instant increase in without-notice applications with children now being left to wait for years for their care arrangements to be decided and the entirety of the family justice system being bogged down.Hon Damien O'Connor: Typical Tories.Ginny Andersen: What will happen with the independent panel's report?Hon Gerry Brownlee: Who said that?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The report makes 70 recommendations—Hon Gerry Brownlee: How does that get away with it?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: —which propose wide-ranging changes—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Sorry I gather there's a sitting-down point of order from the Hon Gerry Brownlee. If he stands up and draws my attention to something out of order I will consider it.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Throughout the afternoon you've been very quick to point to various members on this side for comments they were making. You've singled out the Deputy Prime Minister for being just in time" with a particular comment. None of those comments were particularly offensive but the comment that you appeared to miss from the other side of the House in the context it was given was extremely offensive. The member knows who he was who made it and he should be made to withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: If a member made a comment which might reasonably be considered offensive that member will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Damien O'Connor: I stand withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: Now I'm actually going to—and I'm not sure if he's fixed up yet. The member will just withdraw and apologise while he is standing.Hon Damien O'Connor: I just withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: No. No that—Hon Damien O'Connor: I withdraw and apologise. Sorry.SPEAKER: I do better than the member understand the current problem.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The report makes 70 recommendations which propose wide-ranging changes to the family justice system. The principal recommendation calls for the development of a joined-up family justice service Te Korowai Ture a-Whānau. Having taken the time to listen to the people affected by the failed 2014 reforms the Government will now carefully consider the recommendations with a view to making family justice services more effective and responsive.SPEAKER: Right—the trouble I have now is that I have been advised of the comment that the member made and frankly it is a matter which in the past might've been regarded by one side of the House with pride rather than being an offensive term. I'm not going to let it go any further now but I will just put on the record indicating that someone is a Tory is not something which is offensive in this House.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! I'm about to take a point of order and members will be quiet.Hon Gerry Brownlee: There was no offence taken at the use of the word "Tory". It was the context in which it was offered that was offensive. There's never been any attempt by anybody that I know in the previous Government's ministry to frustrate the processes of the Family Court and I think for the member to have interjected the way he did was to make that suggestion. Given the pain that so many families suffer as a result of their various breakdowns and difficulties in resolving those problems it was a very offensive comment.Hon David Parker: Can I support you in your finding. The phrase "typical Tory" isn't offensive. It's been made often in this House while I've been here and I think it would be setting a new standard for interjections like that to be ruled out of order.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I agree—totally agree but context is important. You lefties are too soft.SPEAKER: Order! Order! I'm now on my feet I've heard that and I've made my point about the interjection and the fact that you know it could well have been regarded until recently at least as a matter of pride rather than being something which is offensive. I was listening carefully to the Minister when he was making his answer to the supplementary question. I did not find anything offensive in that and if I had I would've interrupted and I'm absolutely certain that the learned member Judith Collins seeing as she was being referred to would have herself if in fact there was something offensive said.Hon Damien O'Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Oh the member is not going to be allowed to withdraw his apology.Hon Damien O'Connor: I did wonder if I could withdraw.SPEAKER: No—the member just better be careful or he'll get another smart response from me."