8. Question No. 8—Prime MinisterDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Pāti Māori) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 8—Prime MinisterSPEAKER: Question No. 8 in the name of Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.Hon Erica Stanford: Come on! Ask a supp Jan.Hon Jan Tinetti: Oh it's coming.SPEAKER: Hang on a minute. Sorry. Just wait a minute. That member needs to remember that we don't talk while someone else is asking a question—something I thought a schoolteacher might know a lot about.8. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Pāti Māori) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Yes in the context they were given.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What assurances can he give to iwi like Ngāti Toa Rangatira whose stream and harbour have been poisoned by raw sewage waste as a result of unrestrained development that fast-track legislation will not lead to a repeat of this situation as they're experiencing in their rohe?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well as I've answered before the legislation is before a select committee and submissions are being taken. The Minister for Infrastructure is open for any considerations that come through that process but we are going to get things built in this country. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What qualifies a fast-track project as having significant regional or national benefits and how are these economic benefits weighted against environmental costs?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well again what I'd say to the member is as she well knows the legislation is before a select committee. It is being worked through. We're opening it up to public submissions but we are going to make sure that we balance economic considerations environmental considerations social considerations. But we are going to get things built.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What diplomatic pressure will he apply to Israel after their refusal to accept terms of a ceasefire today and their continued attack on the civilians at Rafah?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well again we're been very strident in our urging that we do not want Israel moving into Rafah. What we have seen today is something that we do not support. But what I'd say is that we have a moment in time to make sure that Hamas and Israel get round a table and actually put peace in this process.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Will he support the United Nations' call for an independent international investigation into the mass graves containing hundreds of bodies at two hospitals in Gaza which show evidence of the mass execution and torture of Palestinian civilians?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Again what we want is a focus in the world for Hamas to release hostages. We want Israel to give unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance and we want both parties to get round the table so that a peace process can commence because military action isn't going to solve anything.Hon David Parker: Did I hear the Prime Minister correctly saying that he thinks that Israel should be negotiating with Hamas rather than Palestine?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What I said was it's important that both parties get round the table put themselves into the peace process and actually resolve this thing diplomatically. That's the only way it's going to get resolved.SPEAKER: The honourable—Hon Members: Rawiri Waititi.SPEAKER: Rawiri Waititi.Rawiri Waititi: You are definitely not only a Speaker but a prophet.Rt Hon Gerry Brownlee: I'm also forgetful.RAWIRI WAITITI: How will the addition of 110 new prison beds impact Māori given that Māori are 37 percent of the people proceeded against by Police 45 percent of the people convicted and 52 percent of the people in prison?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: What I'd just say to that member is there is 450 beds in that prison at Waikeria today there is 600 that will come on-stream next year and there is a further 810 beds to be added under the announcement from yesterday that will lead to over 1800 beds at Waikeria Prison. We are determined in this country to make sure that we are going to lower crime. It is unacceptable and I don't care which ethnicity you're from; if you want to commit a crime you will actually do the time.Rawiri Waititi: What measures are being taken to ensure that the increased capacity will not lead to overcrowding or compromise the wellbeing of inmates?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Well under the previous administration the only goal on law and order was a reduction in the prison population. We are focused on reducing crime—violent crime retail crime ram raids serious crime. That's what we're focused on. And as a result we will continue to expand prison capacity if we need it but at this point in time our focus is on making sure we expand that capacity add more corrections front-line service officers and make sure that we actually support and get law and order restored in this country.Hon David Seymour: Can the Prime Minister confirm that regrettably Māori are more often victims of crime and unlike this line of questioning he's just been addressing our coalition Government is focused on the Māori victims of crime before we worry about the welfare of criminals and actually that goes to people of all ethnic backgrounds?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: I couldn't agree further. The reality is that Māori are disproportionately victims of crime. That is why we are lowering crime rates in this country. That's what we are obsessed about. That's what we're going to do so that people feel safe whether they're Māori or non-Māori. That's important.Rawiri Waititi: Who are the most incarcerated peoples here in Aotearoa?Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Māori are sadly overrepresented in the prison population but they're also overrepresented as victims of crime too.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Isn't it the fact that half of the people who claim to be Māori in prison are less than half Māori?SPEAKER: We'll move on to question No. 9.