McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): Minister I was looking at the Ministry of Justice's Budget bid document and they said in there that if 100 percent of those eligible for grants under the Victim Assistance Scheme got one it would cost between $60 million and $200 million. So does the Minister believe that setting aside $12.3 million over three years for the scheme is indicative of taking a victim-centric approach? And further to that does the Minister believe that $12.3 million over three years is enough to expand the Victim Assistance Scheme given that the grants that are paid out on average are for only 4 percent of the 104190 eligible victimisations reported to police every year? And instead would she support our newly announced policy of having the Crown pay for victims' reparation while the Crown also collects the debt that is owed?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Justice): I thank the member Nicole McKee for her question. I'm not in a position to announce any new party or Government policy direction today but what I will say is that with respect to the Victim Assistance Scheme financial grants $12.3 million over three years has been—this is to enable an expansion of the current scheme. There are two other critical components though to funding that was provided to enable a victim-centric approach. The Victims Operating Model—this is one that has been widely the subject of numerous inquiry and has highlighted real deficiencies in the ability of the Crown to provide a victim-centric approach. That initiative there has received $45.7 million the sole focus being to ensure that there is an upward provision of improving outcomes for victims of crime. It's one thing to splash money at a problem you can't really understand and can't necessarily see; it's another thing to be able to do the work to identify the gaps which aren't being addressed for victims and this indeed is a large part of what will be done there.In addition to that there's also the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey. I understand that this has been one of the most formative pieces of information to help assist and guide policy. Another $8.6 million over four years has been provided to strengthen reporting and the analysis of reporting. It's a key source of directly measuring rates of victimisation; so it includes not just reported crime but it also goes a lot broader than that and includes population groups with a higher risk of victimisation in the system.There are several initiatives that the ministry also already has which aim to provide more support towards victims of crime. So in addition to of course you'll be aware the court victim advisers—specialist court staff whose role is to help a victim throughout the court process—we've also included victim support workers who assist and support victims at court trials and hearings. We've also included support workers—they're trained to tailor support to the unique needs of victims and their families. And we've also ensured that the ministry is providing training seminars for lawyers to understand family violence dynamics and best-use practice techniques when dealing with vulnerable witnesses such as sexual violence victims. You saw last year that we had the reforms to the sexual violence legislation with again the focus there being on victims.In addition probably the least seen but most profound has been the way that currently—and with the backlogs as a consequence of COVID—the backlog of court cases has meant that there has been a substantive impact for victims of crime and having their day in court so to speak and having their issues heard. This has been a direct focus of the ministry over the past year in particular and I've noted already in my primary answer about the additional funding that we've provided to ensure that the processes are sped up and we can clear the backlog. In addition to that I think I announced the family court associates bill that's been introduced to the House which indeed as well will also aim and have a focus on reducing the amount of time that victims are left in limbo as a consequence of lengthy court procedures.