10. Question No. 10—DefenceDr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT) to the Minister of DefenceQuestion No. 10—Defence10. Dr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT) to the Minister of Defence: Does he stand by his statement that We've already put towards Cabinet a number of options which include some lethal support"; if so what lethal support was included?Hon PEENI HENARE (Minister of Defence): Yes. Cabinet continues to look at the most significant contributions New Zealand can offer that will make a material difference to Ukraine. Our support to date has been comprehensive; it includes military intelligence economic sanctions trade tariffs on Russian goods humanitarian aid providing visas for family members to shelter in New Zealand through to support for criminal investigation in the International Criminal Court. We have always said we will continue to consider what more we can do and that nothing is off the table given the unprecedented nature of this invasion by Russia.SPEAKER: No. It is a very clear question which had two parts. The Minister's addressed the first part but he hasn't addressed the second.Hon PEENI HENARE: As the Minister of Defence my job is to inquire of Defence what best support mechanisms we can offer to Ukraine. Ultimately Cabinet makes that decision and Cabinet has made a decision and will continue to assess the situation to make sure that we can respond accordingly.David Seymour: Point of order. Mr Speaker he's made a statement publically saying that he took a range of possible supports to Cabinet. He's been asked on notice in the House what those other supports included; surely he's required to answer that question and tell us what they were?SPEAKER: He is either required to address that question which he hasn't done yet or to indicate that it's not in the public interest to do so—and quite often in the Defence area you do get to that area. But I would have thought that people who had read the news might know the answer.Hon PEENI HENARE: Then it isn't in the best interests of the public to know that.Dr James McDowall: Does he support Cabinet's refusal to send any of our Javelin anti-tank missile systems to help defend Ukraine from the atrocities being committed against them by the Russian Federation?Hon PEENI HENARE: We haven't made a decision specifically on that and I will reiterate the point that Cabinet will continue to make the appropriate decisions which are in line with the needs of Ukraine.Dr James McDowall: Will the Minister take his proposal—to supply lethal aid—back to Cabinet for reconsideration in light of new revelations and mounting evidence of Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians including children?Hon PEENI HENARE: My job is to always present options to Cabinet for consideration and I will reiterate the point that we as a Government stand against the actions of Russia at this point in time and have supported the call for a war tribunal to make sure that for those atrocities people are held to account.Dr James McDowall: If the Minister won't commit to taking back the proposal or presenting a new one to Cabinet does he no longer stand by his decision to do so in the first place?Hon PEENI HENARE: That's not what I said Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Yeah I probably should have ruled the question out because it wasn't what he said.Dr James McDowall: How bad does the situation in Ukraine have to get for the Minister to convince his colleagues that providing lethal support is the right thing to do?Hon PEENI HENARE: I reiterate the point that Cabinet considers a large number of options and we've already moved very swiftly on quite a number of those. And I want to also echo the sentiments from our partners offshore—the UK in particular who commends New Zealand for the actions and the swift action we have taken to date. They have committed to our working together to make sure that our response is in line with the need of Ukraine."