3. Prisons—Prison Population Bail Legislation and Crime RatesHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterPrisons—Prison Population Bail Legislation and Crime Rates3. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government's policies and actions?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Simon Bridges: What specific reversals to the Bail Amendment Act is her Government advocating for in light of her Minister of Justice's comments over the weekend?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think it's fair to say that when you look at the documents that were tabled at the time that the last Government made changes to the Bail Act they significantly under-projected the impact that it would have which suggests that it even outstripped their expectations of how it would operate. I think it's only fair given what we are facing as a Government that we would look across the board at some of those initiatives.Hon Simon Bridges: Well I'll ask again: what specific reversals to the Bail Amendment Act is her Government advocating for in light of her Minister of Justice's comments over the weekend?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've said when the last Government implemented their Bail Amendment Act the implementation has been quite different to the reality that they projected. This is a piece of work that we're undertaking because ultimately we've been left with a prison population that is soaring and on current projections because of the last Government we'll be building another prison every three to five years. That is not acceptable. Hon Simon Bridges: Well given the Bail Amendment Act 2013 made it harder for murderers serious sexual and violent offenders and users and traffickers of class A drugs to get bail what exactly does her Government intend to reverse from those changes?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I have just pointed out based on the regulatory impact statement and the projections from that last Government what's happening in reality has far outstripped that which is suggesting it's doing more than what even they intended it would.Hon Simon Bridges: Does she agree that the likes of William Bell Clayton Weatherston and Graeme Burton should all serve their entire sentences for the crimes that they commit; and if not why not?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: At this point this is going well beyond what the member was asking in his primary question. Does this Government want people to be safe? Yes. Do we want to see the crime rate continuing to decline? Yes. Do we want the imprisonment rate to increase despite a declining crime rate? No. There is more that this Government is committed to doing because the last Government did not plan properly.Hon Simon Bridges: Well in light of the discussion of all the advice that's been received what is the latest advice she has received regarding the number of people in jail for possession of cannabis and can she confirm that the number still sits at around 10 people?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I haven't asked for those figures in recent weeks.Hon Simon Bridges: Can she confirm that her Government has received advice from justice sector agencies that show police proceedings for offences with six-month penalties have rapidly decreased over the last nine years and offences with maximum penalties of three to 14 years have rapidly increased over the same period; and does she think that might have an impact on the prison population?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I can tell the House that the most recent advice I've received from the justice sector is that despite in some cases a declining or static crime rate we have an exponential increase in imprisonment that that Government did nothing about which means that we now are looking at a bill of a new prison every two to three years and we're looking at being a country up with the likes of the United States in terms of our imprisonment rate. He may be proud of it; this Government is not.Hon Simon Bridges: Well given she's so worried about the prison population who of the serious recidivist offenders who commit murder serious sexual and violent offences or who traffic or take class A drugs—spending longer in prison—will she let out first?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: A completely irrational question. And I would point out that his own last leader and last Prime Minister pointed out that continually building prisons is both a moral and fiscal failure and this Government would agree with that sentiment.Hon Simon Bridges: Well if the advice she is receiving from her officials is that there are more serious recidivist offenders serving more of their sentences will she ensure her Government's policy of reducing the prison population by 30 percent will not harm public safety?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Of course this Government is focused on public safety.