2. Question No. 2—JusticeHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 2—Justice2. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by all his policies and statements?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Has targeted stakeholder engagement been undertaken between August and September as was outlined in his Cabinet paper on the cannabis referendum process?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: There's been a range of engagement between the Ministry of Justice and stakeholder groups including my attendance at two symposiums involving a number of groups who have something to contribute on that issue.SPEAKER: Well maybe symposia" but anyway.Hon Paula Bennett: What is the status of the cross-party reference group on the cannabis referendum given that I wrote to him on 28 August confirming support but he has not replied?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: That member wrote to me expressing her willingness to participate and saying that she looked forward to an agenda and materials at my earliest convenience. At that point she will be notified of the meeting and provided materials including the draft legislation and a host of other things and I look forward to her positive engagement.Hon Paula Bennett: When will the cross-party reference group on the cannabis referendum be meeting?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: As soon as possible.Hon Paula Bennett: Did Cabinet consider the draft regulatory model for cannabis sale in July as was outlined in his Cabinet paper on the referendum process?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Cabinet has considered a number of principles that form the basis of the drafting of the regulatory model. That regulatory model or at least the drafting of it is continuing and will be available to that member just as soon as that is completed and we're in the process of calling together the cross-party group.Hon Paula Bennett: Is he confident the rest of the time lines published in the Cabinet paper will be met given the delays that we've seen so far?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I don't accept there have been any delays but yes. The critical thing is to make sure that by early enough next year there is material for and available to the voting public. That includes the draft legislation that includes any explanatory material and that includes advice on the fact that there is a referendum on cannabis legalisation and where citizens can get information about it.Hon Paula Bennett: Will he be waiting for the chief scientist and her panel to report back in March before he puts information out to the public?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: What the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor does will be one piece of information that will be available to the public. I expect that at that or close to or slightly before that time the draft bill will be available through public means along with other explanatory material. I expect that as material makes its way into the public arena and as the debate unfolds more and more material will be available and the challenge will be to make sure that there is good evidence-based authoritative material because there is always a risk in debates of issues like this of fake news and inaccurate information seeping into the public debate."