4. Question No. 4—JusticeHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 4—Justice4. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) to the Minister of Justice: Does she still believe that the Government has the right priorities in justice?Hon DAVID PARKER (Attorney-General) on behalf of the Minister of Justice: Yes including cracking down on gangs whilst also supporting victims of crime. We've banned semi-automatics and we've toughened legislation on the proceeds of crime but we've also passed sexual violence legislation and improved victim assistance schemes and funding for Victim Support.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Why when apparently cracking down on gangs does her Government persist with the goal of reducing the prison population by 30 percent irrespective of the level of serious crime in our communities?Hon DAVID PARKER: The proportion of prisoners in prison who are gang affiliates has increased as has the number of gang affiliates on other forms of sentence. On both occasions this is in part because the police are cracking down so successfully against gangs seizing proceeds of crime firearms and bringing the full weight of the law against them for their offending. Hon Paul Goldsmith: How does she reconcile her statement to Newshub: if there is a line and someone crosses [it] they are held accountable and they suffer the consequences of committing that crime." with her Government's stated goal of reducing the prison population by 30 percent regardless of the level of serious crime in our community?Hon DAVID PARKER: I think the answer that I gave earlier addresses that question. There is no doubt that the police have been given more resources to crack down on gangs. They have a serious offending unit that cracks down on gangs and other organised crime. It has resulted in thousands of offences being charged with those people ending up in prison in the main and sometimes on home detention as well as the confiscation of many firearms and the proceeds of crime.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Doesn't the Government's prison reduction focus send the message that the Government is less interested in accountability and consequences for crime than it is in achieving its goal of a 30 percent reduction in the number of prisoners?Hon DAVID PARKER: On this side of the House we actually leave sentences to the courts. We don't interfere in that process. I would note that in respect of another party's announcement recently the Auckland District Law Society said that if that happened then this would be limiting judicial discretion in a way that would be an overreach of parliamentary power and that it would be illogical.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Has the Minister received any reports of a member of this House interfering in the police prosecution by contacting prosecution witnesses?Hon DAVID PARKER: Well if that was correct it could be a very serious issue but I have no particular information on that matter. If the member wants a more particular answer that could be put down in a primary question.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Is she concerned that the impression that some people may have gathered that the Government is less interested in the consequences of crime has flowed through to the situation where Woolworths is spending $45 million buying new trolleys to stop people running out of stores without paying—something that means law-abiding Kiwis have to pay more for their fruit and vegetables and groceries?Hon DAVID PARKER: It might be that that member like some of his colleagues never goes to supermarkets because I know having been to supermarkets over many decades that it's many decades ago that they introduced the same technology to stop those trolleys being taken from the car park.Hon Meka Whaitiri: To the Minister in your opinion is it appropriate for a member of this House to interfere in a police prosecution by contacting prosecution witnesses?Hon DAVID PARKER: Oh that's a very easy question to answer. That would be entirely inappropriate and I would be surprised if that ever occurred."