Simpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19121. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel)to the Minister of Justice: What justice initiatives has she announced to address family violence in New Zealand?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice):Today the Prime Minister Minister Tolley Minister Turia and I announced a cross-Government approach to address the unacceptable rate of family violence in New Zealand. We will establish a Chief Victims Advisor to the Minister of Justice test an intensive case management service for high-risk victims establish a nationwide home-safety service to help victims who want to leave a violent relationship review the Domestic Violence Act explore options to allow prosecutors to comment on the failure of an offender to give evidence explore the possibility of a conviction disclosure scheme and offer more GPS monitoring of high-risk family violence offenders and mobile safety alarms for high-risk family violence victims. Research shows that 6 percent of victims experience 54 percent of violent crime. Better protecting victims of family violence will have a significant impact on reducing family violence in New Zealand.Scott Simpson: How will the justice sector initiatives complement the social sector initiatives announced today?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: This Government is committed to doing more to end family violence. Justice sector and social sector agencies have been working together to develop programmes that improve the way offenders and victims are dealt with in the justice system and that also change attitudes and support communities to reject family violence. The Hon Tariana Turia as Associate Minister for Social Development has announced initiatives to mobilise and support communities strengthen support for young people’s healthy relationships raise awareness of and change attitudes and behaviours towards family violence develop an integrated approach to early interventions for alcohol and drug addiction and family violence and review the current arrangements for the delivery and funding of domestic violence programmes.Scott Simpson: How will the position of the Chief Victims Advisor to the Minister of Justice function?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I have considered models of victims commissioners overseas and I have decided that the best model for New Zealand is to have a Chief Victims Advisor to the Minister of Justice modelled on the highly successful Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister. The Chief Victims Advisor will ensure that the Minister is informed of the needs and views of victims. The Victims Centre based in the Ministry of Justice will continue to operate as the agency responsible for coordinating victims’ support and victims’ grants. It will also promote the new Victims Codes. The Chief Victims Advisor will be expected to have a close relationship with the Victims Centre.Andrew Little: Why will the Minister not consider suggestions from the Law Commission to change trial procedures in sexual violence cases so that victims are afforded more protection rather than having defendants treated as guilty until proven innocent which her proposal to allow an adverse inference if a defendant elects not to give evidence would lead to?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well I completely disagree with that member’s assertion about the effect of an adverse inference being able to be drawn from a defendant who sits and listens to a victim having to state what has happened to them and be cross-examined and then sits there and says nothing. That is actually something that has been brought into the UK for some years which from the comments of judges and others to me has been highly successful.Hon Anne Tolley: How will the trialling of mobile safety alarms help police provide better protection to victims of domestic violence?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Some high-risk victims currently have safety alarms installed in their homes. However we know attacks often occur outside the home. Mobile safety alarms in the form of a bracelet or other device that can easily be carried or worn by a family violence victim are a much more effective tool to improve the safety and peace of mind of those who may be at risk. New Zealand Police will trial updated safety alarms including mobile alarms with GPS technology that may be used anywhere with a cellphone signal. This trial will run for 2 years from early 2015.Carol Beaumont: Why was the leading NGO in the domestic violence sector the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges not consulted or even briefed about the justice initiatives announced today?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: There are actually many very significant and leading advocates in this area. It is very important as a Government that has worked with these agencies over many years that having received their views we now come out with our policy.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Sorry I can see that you are not looking forward to the point of order but the question asked by Carol Beaumont was specifically about the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges. The Minister did not address that part of the question.Mr SPEAKER: No I am sorry but the Minister did. The question asked about why—in the opinion of the asker—the leading NGO was not asked and the Minister responded immediately by saying that there are a number of organisations involved. On that basis I am ruling that the question was addressed.