Carter KahurangiKAHURANGI CARTER (Green): Thank you Mr Speaker. Today I rise in support of the Victims of Family Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill. I want to mihi to the mahi of many across both sides of this House to ensure we are collectively centred on the real issue at hand. Our shared vision is clear: we can prevent family violence and sexual violence. We shouldn't accept these issues as inevitable. Our mokopuna and future generations deserve our commitment to this goal. Together we can and must create a world where everyone can live free from violence with dignity and peace and respect.This bill amends the Family Court Act 1980 the District Court Act 2016 and the Senior Courts Act 2016 which will strengthen the courts' statutory powers to protect victims of litigation abuse in family proceedings. It specifically addresses the needs of victims of family violence enhancing their protection within our legal system. I want to acknowledge that this bill will take significant steps to address the issue of using the court system to harass victims and survivors of abuse which has been a persistent problem for far too long.In the first reading of this bill the Hon Marama Davidson spoke of the need to balance the rights of victims to be free from abuse in our justice system with maintaining fair process and as such strongly recommended the scrutiny of the select committee on this bill. When we speak on behalf of victims and survivors our goal is to uphold justice and fairness not to undermine them as victims and survivors are the ones who truly benefit from these principles. It's clear that there have been instances where the court has been misused in a disruptive way without any real intervention of seeking justice. I want to thank the work of the Justice Committee along with those who submitted on this bill to ensure we struck that balance and that the justice system would be safe for those who have experienced domestic and sexual assault in their family.Whilst the select committee report reads and unanimously recommends all amendments" I want to draw attention to key amendments. Firstly the committee heard a common theme by submitters that the phrasing and definition of "abuse of the court" did not appropriately reflect the serious nature of the harm suffered by abuse victims. As such it is vital that the House introduce proposed new section 12B(8) to change the definition from "abuse of the court" to "litigant abuse" which more precisely describes this behaviour. This amendment ensures that we place the survivors at the centre of a strengths-based system which is in line with Te Aorerekura. I cannot stand here without highlighting and holding Te Aorerekura the first ever nationwide intergenerational strategy to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.These legislative efforts alone won't completely reform the system. There is widespread acknowledgment that they represent a deliberate shift towards centring the voices expertise and experience of victim survivors validating them as they rightfully should be. As highlighted by the Chief Victims Advisor our current adversarial system often leaves victims and survivors without true justice perpetuating a cycle of winners and losers. We must reform the system while concurrently striving to establish a more accountable justice framework one that prioritises victims and survivors and offers effective support and intervention to perpetrators to change their behaviour and take responsibility for the harm they've caused.I also want to draw attention to the themes of some submitters including that of Community Law and The Backbone Collective. Whilst they spoke in favour of the intent of the bill they did raise a valid concern that some victims often need to make multiple applications to the Family Court before their case is heard. Their concern was that the introduction of this legislation would prevent victims from being able to use the court systems to bring proceedings. Whilst the committee notes that the amendment specifically to clause 5 and around new section 12B the committee is satisfied that it would protect these circumstances.I also want to acknowledge the point of monitoring and reporting which was brought up by many members in the first speech of this bill. Tragically we know that in Aotearoa most violence is not reported. Nearly all sexual violence is not reported at all and it takes an average of seven times for someone to leave an abusive relationship for good. We aim to increase reporting while reducing the prevalence of violence. Decreasing the occurrence of violence is harder gruntier work but it's worth having that goal and is essential—and I'm pleased we have our pathway forward provided by Te Aorerekura which the Hon Marama Davidson worked so hard to champion.Whilst we are talking about this bill in the House today—which is directly related to our collective shared vision of preventing family violence and sexual violence present for our future mokopuna—I can't help but put this into context of what this very House received with heavy hearts just last month: the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in care. Words cannot adequately convey the systemic failures and injustices continually perpetuated for decades by the State.If we do not confront the systemic injustice and recognise that the State continues to be the largest perpetrator of violence and abuse towards tamariki the stain on our national character will be permanent. As such I take this opportunity in the House whilst we are debating family and sexual violence legislation to implore the Government in the strongest terms possible to fully implement all 138 recommendations of the royal inquiry into abuse in care in full.Thank you Mr Speaker. I recommend this bill to the House and look forward to working across the aisle to continue its progress."