3. Question No. 3—JusticeHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) on behalf of Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 3—JusticeHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): Point of order Mr Speaker. Just under Standing Order 394 just to indicate that I've got authorisation from Julie Anne Genter to ask questions on her behalf.SPEAKER: I had been informed of that and I work on that assumption anyway.3. Hon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) on behalf of Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister of Justice: Will he propose a law change to prevent New Zealand citizens living overseas from losing their right to vote if they haven't been able to visit Aotearoa during the COVID-19 pandemic; if not why not?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Justice): As Minister of Justice this may be one of many issues among the findings and recommendations of the Justice Committee's inquiry into the 2020 election which I understand will report back before the end of the year. I'm also aware that the issue was included in the Electoral Commission's report on the 2020 general election. The Government will consider any necessary changes in this area after receiving the select committee's recommendations in their totality. There could be a number of relevant issues that the committee identifies for further consideration and it's important to work through these issues in a well-considered way as all electoral law changes should be. Obviously New Zealanders choose to live overseas for a variety of reasons but the Government does understand this doesn't mean they lose interest in the issues that affect their friends and their loved ones who still live in New Zealand. We do recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly disruptive to international travel and this has had a flow-on effect on some people's ability to return to New Zealand. This is why it is important to let the select committee do its work to consider this issue and to provide recommendations to the Government. Hon James Shaw: Under the existing law why do New Zealand citizens have to return to Aotearoa every three years when there are no residency requirements on citizens' voting rights in Canada the United States Austria Belgium Chile Finland France Japan Mexico the Netherlands Norway Portugal and Spain?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: All of those other jurisdictions have their own laws. In New Zealand I believe the electoral law that the member has referred to is to ensure that there is a connection maintained to New Zealand in order to express the vote.Hon James Shaw: Has he seen the reports that If the law is not changed it would be the largest disenfranchisement of voters in recent times"?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: No I have not. But I am aware of the issues that are raised by the Electoral Commission around the issues that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for some people who are overseas and the interaction with that with the current laws.Hon James Shaw: Does he consider that the current law is consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act requirement that any limit on rights must be "demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society"?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: There are always some of those issues that come into play when the border is closed. I guess one of the main issues for people overseas obviously is getting a managed isolation spot in order to return to New Zealand under the current law. As I say the select committee is looking at these issues and once they come back the Government will consider them.Hon James Shaw: Does he accept that the window of time to propose a law change before the 2022 local elections is narrowing quickly meaning that tens of thousands of people could miss out on the chance to vote next October?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: What I would say to that as I said in my primary answer is that any change to electoral law should be careful and well considered."