1. Question No. 1—JusticeJAMI-LEE ROSS (Botany) to the Minister of JusticeORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Justice1. JAMI-LEE ROSS (Botany) to the Minister of Justice: What is the latest date he can receive recommendations from the Justice Committee on foreign interference that he asked it to look at as part of its 2017 general election inquiry in order for him to introduce any necessary legislation in time for the next general election and does he intend to do so if the Government adopts any recommendations from the inquiry?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Mr Speaker kia orana. For the Electoral Commission to implement changes before the 2020 general election legislation is required to be passed by Parliament by early next year. The Justice Committee has been significantly delayed in producing its report on the 2017 general election inquiry in part due to its consideration of the End of Life Choice Bill and other work and as such I have progressed an Electoral Amendment Bill which makes minor administrative changes which will make it easier to vote. If the committee has recommendations to the Electoral Act that deal with foreign interference and donations then they will need to work smartly in order for them to be implemented for the 2020 general election. In my meetings in London last week it was clear that Governments around the world are concerned about interference in electoral and parliamentary processes and as such if members are equally concerned about this issue I would certainly be happy to work with them to implement any changes necessary before the 2020 general election. Jami-Lee Ross: When he identified an example of foreign interference in April overseas donations that were disaggregated and routed through different mechanisms" was he referring to overseas persons routing overseas donations through New Zealand companies and if so will he take steps to protect New Zealand from that practice before the next election?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The reference I made in answer to a question at that time was in relation to a perceived risk or threat that that could be happening and that had been the subject of public debate I think as recently as last year. In my conversations with members in this House including at least one member opposite there has been an expressed concern by members about the need to make sure we have a robust electoral donations regime provided for under the Electoral Act and that's why I'm looking to the Justice Committee to make sure that through their examination and inquiry into the 2017 general election we get good advice and hopefully any recommendations on a more robust regime for electoral donations.Jami-Lee Ross: Given a parliamentary majority exists to ban foreign donations and the Justice Committee's inquiry has been delayed will he consider supporting a motion that would instruct the Justice Committee to consider electoral donation law as part of the committee's consideration of the Electoral Amendment Bill intended to be referred to the committee later today?SPEAKER: I'm going to ask the member to restate his question without the preface which contains an assertion. So ask the question without the assertion.Jami-Lee Ross: Given he said the Justice Committee has been delayed in its consideration will he consider supporting a motion to the Justice Committee instructing it to consider electoral donation law as part of its consideration of the Electoral Amendment Bill which is intended to be referred to that committee later today?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I wrote to the Justice Committee in October last year specifically requesting that they consider the issue of political interference in elections and the issue of donations and so I'm not quite sure what more a motion would add to it. I understand that member's concerns and I share his wish to make sure that our electoral law is robust enough to deal with the growing threat of overseas political interference including through overseas donations. I would simply urge members on the Justice Committee to bring their work to a close—hopefully expeditiously—and to bring their recommendations back to the House so that we can all consider them."