4. Question No. 4—JusticeNICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of JusticeQuestion No. 4—Justice4. NICOLE McKEE (ACT) to the Minister of Justice: Does she stand by her statement that she will bring a very victim-centric" approach to her new job; and if so will she commit to advocating for an increase in the funding available for victims in the next Budget to support her approach?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Justice): In response to the first part of the question: yes. In response to the second part of the question: I will always advocate for my sector but the member will be aware I cannot prejudge future Budget discussions.Nicole McKee: Does her victim-centric approach mean she will now consult with the victims of three-strike offenders which her predecessor did not do before proceeding to repeal the three-strikes law and if not why not?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: The three-strikes legislation was introduced for the purpose of deterrence—David Seymour: Yes or no.SPEAKER: Order! Who was that?Hon Member: David Seymour.SPEAKER: OK. We'll keep going and—I've just about washed my hands of that one.Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: The purpose of three-strikes legislation when it was introduced was for the intent of deterrence. It has not proven to be a deterrent and therefore no. We will proceed to introduce that legislation.Nicole McKee: Point of order Mr Speaker. I asked about whether or not the Minister was intending to speak to victims of three-strike offenders and I don't believe that that was answered. SPEAKER: Well I think if the member looks at her colleague's copy of Speakers' rulings she will look at 184 and get the answer to that point of order.Hon Paul Goldsmith: Does she agree that for her officials to admit to deliberately excluding victims from the victim support scheme by a deliberate strategy of under-promoting the scheme scarcely speaks of a victim-centric approach and if so why would Kiwis believe her stated intention to be focused on victims more than they had believed the predecessors' similar statements by Mr Kris Faafoi and Andrew Little? Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: The premise of the question is that victims have not been supported. I think over successive Governments there has been significant under-investment into a victim-centric approach. Budget 2022—the first priority of the justice sector was to ensure a victim-centred approach which saw the uplift of over $46 million specifically targeted towards victims; $12.4 million is to go directly towards providing in excess of over 7000 more additional grants to victims.Nicole McKee: What does she intend to do about the victims of crime who are owed more than $35 million in unpaid reparations?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Unpaid reparations is one area of concern for us and it's something that I'm taking advice on right now.Nicole McKee: Will she ensure that the Victim Assistance Scheme will reach assist and support more than the 4 percent of victims it currently supports?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: As previously just stated there has been successive under-investment for victims across multiple Governments. To put it in context the total funding for the Victim Assistance Scheme is now $14.6 million per year compared to $5.3 million in 2017 under the last National-ACT Government. Victims are our priority and we will ensure that there is a victim-centred approach in the justice sector.Nicole McKee: Will she commit to ensuring a greater portion of the proceeds of crime fund goes towards supporting victims and that it will never again be used to fund the Mongrel Mob?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: I am sure that we are investing directly millions of dollars from the proceeds of crime to victims. A good example of that recently is the $6 million that we've provided for business owners who have been subjected to ram raids."