11. Question No. 11—JusticeHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Associate Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 11—Justice11. Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Justice: Does she stand by her statement Good legislation involves everybody and bad legislation is usually when somebody goes off and does something by themselves ... I'm never going to be arrogant enough to think that I have the answers to everything"; if so why?SPEAKER: The Hon Nicole McKee and in the context of her ministerial responsibilities.Hon NICOLE McKEE (Associate Minister of Justice): Thank you Mr Speaker. In answer to the question yes. That means that for example we need to avoid the type of rushed lawmaking that led to a three-day select committee and a 10-day total process for the last reform of the Arms Act by the previous Government. I also stand by another statement I made in the article that the member references: "I've got to make sure it's not my personal views that go forward but rather collected views." As part of my four-phase firearms reform work programme New Zealanders will have four opportunities to submit their views to the select committee. Furthermore stakeholders from both sides of the debate have had the chance to participate in focused consultation on both clubs and ranges reforms and the review of the Firearms Registry. This Government cares about the voices of New Zealanders and we are doing the due diligence that should have been done back in 2019.Hon Ginny Andersen: Why did she attempt to remove Police's comment "The stakeholder consultation is heavily weighted towards firearm licence holders and should include broader perspectives including from groups like the Police Association." from the Cabinet paper on firearms reforms?Hon NICOLE McKEE: As I have actually publicly said learning about the Cabinet process and how we go about utilising the papers I was informed that I could not remove some of the comments and I wondered why they were there in the first place seeing as it was my paper. I'm very pleased with the advice that I got that I should keep it there and actually respond to those comments. I'd also point out that the Police Association were never on the original list of those that should have been spoken to that was given to me and the list that the Labour Government used beforehand. I'm quite happy with the very fulsome response I'm getting from New Zealand Police and the fact that they are being so fulsome with their responses. They represent their entire workforce not just their union.Hon Ginny Andersen: Does she agree with Police Association President Chris Cahill that "Without a registry you buy as many firearms as you like. There's no controls whether you still have them or you pass them on to someone else." and is she concerned that without a firearms registry A-category firearms like Alfa Carbine rifles will get into the hands of criminals who directly threaten front-line police officers' safety; if not why not?Hon NICOLE McKEE: In answer to the first part of the question I do not agree with Mr Cahill because legislation actually has restrictions around the legal transfer of firearms—part of the reason why we need to have people involved in the consultation that actually understand the legislation.Hon Ginny Andersen: Does she agree with Police advice—not Police Association; Police advice—on the Government's firearms reform programme "This should report back to at least two Ministers as National Party supports the registry."; if not why not?Hon NICOLE McKEE: I have been given the opportunity on behalf of the Government to lead this reform in the firearms space. What is really important is that we as a Government as a whole agree with the process as we move through the transparent process of four firearms reform phases. I'm really happy with the opportunity that I've been given to make New Zealand a safer place because that side failed to do that post-2019.Todd Stephenson: What is the Minister doing to target gun crime in our communities?Hon NICOLE McKEE: This Government is committed to targeting violent offenders and gang members who use illegally held firearms to commit crimes in our communities. Earlier in the year we introduced legislation to Parliament to strengthen the ability for police to search violent offenders and gang members who are subject to a firearms prohibition order for illegally held firearms. New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their communities from gang members and violent offenders who use firearms to intimidate to threaten and also to harm. Strengthening the firearms prohibition laws will give police the powers needed to tackle illegal firearm use head-on.Hon Ginny Andersen: How does she justify attempting to remove the power of police to comment in a Cabinet paper when she is part of a Government that has spoken so strongly about increasing the powers of police?Hon NICOLE McKEE: I think I answered that where I had already said that I am very grateful for New Zealand Police giving me their thoughtful and fulsome advice and I also like the opportunity that I have to be able to rebut or even comment back. I'm happy with the process. I'm happy with New Zealand Police being involved."