Dean Jacqui; Andersen GinnyPart 4 Amendments to the Victims' Rights Act 2002 and Schedule 4CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Members we now come to Part 4 which is the debate on clauses 14 to 15A and Schedule 4 amendments to the Victims' Rights Act 2002. The question is that Part 4 stand part.GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much Madam Chair. I just want to seek clarity—under Part 4 there's also Part 2A. Is that taken as a separate part or is it able to raise a question to the member in charge of the bill in relation to Part 2A?CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Oh I see. My understanding is that it is only Part 4 that is being amended.GINNY ANDERSEN: Thank you very much Madam Chair. The point I wish to reach is under the next section so under Part 2A.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): All right. So Part 2A is part of the bill which is being inserted by the passing of Part 4.GINNY ANDERSEN: Right. I understand. Great. Thank you very much Madam Chair. I'd like to make a brief contribution and interested in the member in the chair's views because I think one of the most important changes to the bill is contained within that section which relates to victim impact statements. So the Justice Committee has recommended amending the Victims' Rights Act to allow victims of insane offenders the opportunity to make victim impact statements. In some ways I guess it's unbelievable that this has not been made available in the past that that right has not been taking place when there have been people who are accused who are unfit to stand trial or insane without having the requisite mens rea for the crime that's been alleged.So these statements will be parallel to those that already exist for victims of sane offenders and will accordingly take place at the disposition hearing which will take place after the offender has been found guilty or in this case proven to have committed the offence. I think it's really important to note in this space that the victim impact statement will not be used to inform any clinical or judicial decision about the fitness of a person to stand trial. So just as it operates for those victims of offenders who are sane this gives that right to the victim to be able to have their voice heard in the courtroom to tell their part of the story and for that voice to be conveyed clearly. That's incredibly important in restoring the rights of victims in this space.This change specifically reflects the submissions of 13 submitters who came before the committee and provided their views including individual victims and also a submission that was an excellent one from the New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups. So I'm just interested to know from the member where this idea generated from. I think it's been something that's very very loudly spoken through the submissions process and it's good to be able to see that right from the outset that this bill has attempted to provide a parallel process or a parallel ability for those victims of insane offenders to have the same rights and voice as anybody else going through the criminal justice system.Dr Emily Henderson: Madam Chair.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Mr Chair.Dr Emily Henderson: Mr Chair—Mr Chair.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Emily Henderson.