6. Question No. 6—JusticeHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 6—Justice6. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by all his statements policies and actions on electoral law and referenda?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): Yes and I should point out that the accepted plural of referendum" these days is "referendums".Hon Dr Nick Smith: I note the Clerk's Office has a different view.SPEAKER: Yes and so does the Speaker.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he stand by his statement last week that prisoners should be able to vote; if so does he believe that the Christchurch mosque killer if convicted should be entitled to vote in future elections?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I made no such statement.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does he stand by his statement last week that the removal of prisoners' voting rights was "fascist"; if so is his coalition partner New Zealand First fascist for supporting the policy?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I made no such statement.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does the Minister deny the report in Newshub on 12 August last week in which he said the policy of removing the right of prisoners to vote was a "fascist sort of policy"?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The member has taken a small number of words out of a longer quote. What I said was that the National Party Government of 2010 had followed what was then I think a fascistic sort of ACT Party—no reflection on today's single member representing that party—in passing the law and in order to do so they had defied the advice of their own Attorney-General who had said that doing so was inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act something that I know is very important to that member.David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: A point of order—David Seymour. Sorry I was going to call him "Hon" for a second there.David Seymour: I'd turn that down on point of principle but look while I'm very grateful for the Minister's concession that I don't happen to be a fascist I actually take offence at referring to past members of this House from any party as being fascists. It's a very serious claim and historically inaccurate and very insensitive.SPEAKER: The problem I have is that the word was introduced by the questioner allegedly as a direct quote from the member outside the House and the Minister was essentially being required to answer that. I think it is a different context to making an allegation a more general allegation that doesn't flow from a question. I was listening carefully. I know that some of the members concerned or former members concerned will not be happy with it but I did let it run.David Seymour: Well can I add that this House has the names of battles where—SPEAKER: Yes yes—[Interruption] The member will resume his seat—the member will resume his seat when I tell him to.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Does the Minister accept that in the Newshub interview he used the word "fascist" in respect of the ACT Party and the National Party and does he now regret that noting that his own coalition partner New Zealand First supports the policy—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member's done two questions.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Sorry I heard at least three questions there and I think probably the most accurate one is no.Jami-Lee Ross: Is the Ministry of Justice undertaking policy work relating to potential changes to electoral law relating to donations and if so is a ban on overseas donations part of that policy work?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Sorry I didn't hear the very beginning of the question. I wonder if the member might—SPEAKER: Please repeat.Jami-Lee Ross: Is the Ministry of Justice undertaking policy work on potential changes to electoral law relating to donations and if so is a ban on overseas donations part of that work?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes the Ministry of Justice is doing some policy work on electoral changes and the work that the ministry has done is reflected in the electoral reform bill that went into the House a couple of weeks ago. In relation to foreign donations I've made it clear I'm very keen to see the conclusion of the work by the Justice Committee that's currently looking at that issue and await their recommendations on that issue before embarking on any legislative change."