2. Justice System—Three-strikes LegislationHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterJustice System—Three-strikes Legislation2. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's statements and actions?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes with the possible exception of the last one!Hon Paula Bennett: Will the three-strikes law be reviewed by her Government before the next election?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Prime Minister we are putting together a package of justice reforms. It is clear that at this time one partner in the coalition Government does not want to see the three strikes as part of that but that package of reforms will come forward in the short term.Hon Paula Bennett: So will the package of reforms come forward without the three-strikes law being reformed?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It is quite clear that the three-strikes law does not have the support of one of the members of the coalition Government at this time. The full package of reforms that will be put forward as we come towards the summit in August will be about the wide range of issues that are needing to be addressed to improve our criminal justice system. The three-strikes law is a very very small part of a wider picture where most New Zealanders understand we need to do far far better than we have in recent years.Hon Paula Bennett: Does her Government expect her coalition partner to change their mind before the next election and the three-strikes law to be reviewed?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: That's a matter for the coalition partner.Hon Paula Bennett: What did she mean yesterday when she said Of course that law will be looked at." and how does this reconcile with Mr Peters' view that there will be no changes to the three-strikes law?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: It's the job of any responsible Government to continually monitor how laws are being implemented.Hon Paula Bennett: Has she considered making Mr Peters the Minister of Justice as he seems to be the only one that knows what's going on?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Minister of Justice the Hon Andrew Little is doing an excellent job in finally addressing the complete failure that has been left by the previous Government that allowed the prison population to grow had no plan to address the underlying causes of crime and no vision for a future in New Zealand when we're actually more safe and secure not just building American-style mega-prisons.Hon Paula Bennett: So does she stand by her Minister of Justice who on Radio New Zealand said in the context of a question in regards to the Prime Minister that—she talked about it being pushed back a few years so that's not off the table; and if so is that because you're hoping for a new coalition partner who might vote for it?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What I'm very confident of is that on this side of the House we have a coalition Government that shares one very important thing: we can do so much better than the last lot.Hon Paula Bennett: So how many reviews working groups inquiries special summits teams reference groups advisory groups expert advisory groups independent expert advisory groups lived experience task forces and other loose gatherings of paid contractors has the Government established to date?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The number of reviews being undertaken by the Government at this point in our time is very similar to the number of reviews that were undertaken by the previous Government in their first days. But what I would add to that is to say that actually when you come in and see so much to be done so many areas underfunded so many programmes not delivered on you do need to get some help to do that.SPEAKER: Order! Just both sides—can they just wind it back a bit.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she agree with her Minister for Regional Economic Development who said in a speech at Fieldays this morning "I agree with Mike Hosking that this Government is setting up too many working groups."?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I haven't seen those comments from the Minister for Regional Economic Development but what I do know is that working closely with him and with other partners in this Government we are starting to address the issues that were left behind by the previous Government. If the member doesn't think that it's important to understand what a shambles she made of meth testing then perhaps she does have to have another think.Hon Paula Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked quite a straight question about whether or not she agreed with the comments of the Minister for Regional Economic Development. That was answered in the first part and I don't believe that the second part was necessary at all.SPEAKER: I do agree with the Hon Paula Bennett. It wasn't necessary and the Minister should remember he's answering for the Prime Minister who told us of her kind approach."