9. Question No. 9—PoliceNICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 9—Police9. NICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of Police: Does she stand by her statement My single focus will be improving community safety"; if so why did she not attend the Esk Valley meeting for residents to address their concerns about levels of crime in the region following Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Minister of Police): Yes; by backing our police by reducing retail and organised crime and responding to youth offending and the underlying drivers of crime I am absolutely committed to improving community safety. To the second part of that member's question I was and still am scheduled to travel to the region to hear from locals and to meet with local police later in the week. I also note that the local MP attended the meeting. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Supplementaries are heard in silence.Nicole McKee: What message does it send to the residents of Esk Valley that neither the police Minister nor any police attended the community meeting over the weekend to hear the residents' concerns about ongoing crime?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: First of all I wish to acknowledge the devastating impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle on the community of the Esk Valley and the surrounding region. It is in that context why there was increased police presence and response to that community and that is why I am taking the action to go up to that community to check in with community members and front-line police on Friday this week. Nicole McKee: Does she agree with Stuart Nash's concession at that meeting regarding the Cyclone response that police "didn't quite get it right" and if so what does she think that he was referring to?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: It is my expectation as Minister of Police that police not only respond to criminal activity but also provide reassurance to the community as well. That is why police are maintaining very high visibility through the community. That is why there are still extra staff in the district who have carried out thousands of reassurance patrols and that is why there are three police bases that are encouraging people who may feel unsafe to call the priority 105 line that has been set up specifically for people in the cyclone-affected communities. In addition to that eastern district police are working with the council that will be attending a range of community meetings next week to support those severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. Nicole McKee: Point of order. When I refer to my second supplementary question I don't believe that the Minister actually addressed it. SPEAKER: Yeah and I actually thought about ruling it out of order based on the Minister doesn't actually have that responsibility but I allowed the question to be asked. Have you got further questions?David Seymour: Point of order. To be clear the question was about the Minister's opinion on a statement not taking responsibility for the statement. Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking to the point of order many times in this House we've had rulings that that particular point of order that the member's just raised is in fact not a point of order because the first matter is the matter of responsibility and that is what you've ruled. Nicole McKee: What does she say to the mother from Esk Valley who told us that there are still strangers shining torches into her children's bedrooms at night and does she agree with her colleague Stuart Nash who characterised this as just a "perceived risk"?Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I understand that the community in the Esk Valley are going through an incredibly tough time right now and that is exactly why I am visiting Esk Valley this Friday and that is why police continue to monitor the situation. Should the community require additional support from police they are there to help."