Ardern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeArdern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:8030. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Justice: On what date did she or her department instruct the Parliamentary Counsel Office to begin drafting the legislation to create a supervision regime for deported offenders that will be debated today?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister of Justice): I instructed officials to work with the Parliamentary Counsel Office to begin drafting the legislation as a priority following Cabinet’s confirmation of the policy on Tuesday 27 October as pursuant to the Cabinet Manual drafting instructions cannot be given until then. I instructed officials to begin developing the policy following the initial advice on the issue in February of this year.Jacinda Ardern: Why did her Government begin drafting this legislation so late when she knew about this issue as early as December of last year?Hon AMY ADAMS: Firstly the member is wrong. I first received advice on this issue in February of this year. The drafting of the legislation is very different from the development of the policy. That began as soon as I became aware of the issue.Jacinda Ardern: If the Minister knew this was an issue only in February why did her Government progress the extended supervision order legislation in April last year—a law that applies to returning offenders as well—but this bill instead will go through a rushed flawed last-minute process?Hon AMY ADAMS: There were a number of issues that changes to the public protection order and the extended supervision order regimes were intended to address one of which was about returning offenders but I can point out to that member that offenders have been being deported to New Zealand for years and years and years without any supervision. No member in this House was unaware that that was happening. That has always been the case and unlike Labour we are doing something about it.Jacinda Ardern: How many offenders have entered New Zealand in the last year due to being deported from Australia when her Government knew it was an issue and cannot be subject to this monitoring regime because of its late entry into Parliament?Hon AMY ADAMS: I do not have the number covering the last year but I can tell that member that it was considerably less than the estimated 700 that arrived under the Labour Government with no supervision.Jacinda Ardern: Can the Minister confirm that the rate of offenders coming back into New Zealand now is five times higher per month than it has been in recent years?Hon AMY ADAMS: The advice I have is that prior to Australia’s policy change the numbers coming to New Zealand were around 60 to 100 a year and the predicted number now is around 250 to 300 a year. However members should note that that also includes people who are being deported back to New Zealand not because of their convictions but because of bad character grounds. That was not previously included so not all of that increase is about deported offenders. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the members wish to have a discussion they are welcome to do so outside the Chamber.