12. Question No. 12—JusticeCAMERON BREWER (National—Upper Harbour) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 12—Justice12. CAMERON BREWER (National—Upper Harbour) to the Minister of Justice: What progress has the Government made in relation to restoring law and order?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister of Justice): The coalition Government is making excellent progress in fulfilling its hundred-day plan commitments in justice that are the first steps in our plan to rebuild confidence in the justice system and to restore law and order. Just this morning the Legal Services Amendment Bill passed its third reading; it will stop taxpayer funding for section 27 cultural reports that proliferated out of control under the former regime consuming more than $7 million out of the legal aid budget. When this Government says it will do something it does.Cameron Brewer: What other commitments within the 100-day plan to restore law and order is the Government delivering on?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well we've abolished the previous Government's prison reduction target that bore no relationship to the level of crime in our community. Tomorrow we'll introduce legislation to give police extra powers to deal with gangs. We're making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing we're giving police greater powers to search for firearms and as you heard from my colleague Minister Chhour yesterday we're giving the justice system extra tools to deal with the repeat serious youth offenders.Cameron Brewer: Why is restoring law and order so important?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well indeed that's a good question. New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. Gang membership has increased by 51 percent in the previous six years violent crime up by 33 percent ram raids went up by 290 percent and victims of retail crime by 110 percent. These are not statistics that anyone in this House should be proud of and that is why we need to act.Hon Nicole McKee: What changes is this Government making to the firearms prohibition orders regime to better prevent gang members and violent offenders from accessing firearms?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: A very good question. The Associate Minister of Justice has announced new measures to give police greater powers to search gang members for firearms and for gang members or associates that have been convicted of significant offences to be issued with firearms prohibition orders. These orders will keep firearms out of their hands and help keep the public safe. I thank the Minister for her excellent work.Hon Nicole McKee: What message does this Government's inclusion of gang membership as an aggravating factor during sentencing send to the gangs?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well it's quite simple. Gangs for too long have been allowed to behave as if they are above the law—they are not. The Government is serious about restoring law and order and if you're a member or an associate of a gang expect serious consequences because the tolerance you once enjoyed has ended.Cameron Brewer: What feedback if any has the Minister received on recent policy announcements relating to restoring law and order?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well I do note one commentator who said in response to the Government plans to address harm caused by gangs If police have probable cause and know someone's a gang member they should be able to go after them with the full force of the law knowing that Parliament politicians and the community has their back." That commentator was one Stuart Nash.Cameron Brewer: What will the Government do after the 100-day plan commitments are delivered?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: Well throughout the next three years this Government will be relentlessly focused on restoring law and order. After the hundred-day plan commitments are delivered we will progress work including the reinstatement of the three-strikes legislation and limiting excessive sentencing discounts. New Zealanders want to see real consequences for crime.SPEAKER: Can I ask that when members leave the House they do so without having conversations all the way out the door."