Brown Simeon; Williams PotoSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Chair. Just following on from those comments it does seem strange to us on this side of House that the firearms prohibition order (FPO) legislation that the Minister's proposing there will be putting it in place for people who commit offences—they have to commit an offence—and I'd like the Minister to clarify this: someone will have to commit an offence and then at sentencing they will be able to have an FPO put in place rather than what the National Party is proposing which is actually looking at people in the community who are already at risk of causing harm and trying to prevent harm from actually taking place into the future. So I'd appreciate the Minister's comments on that point if that's the distinction that this proposed legislation—whenever it does actually come to the House—will have.The next question I'd like to talk about is the safety of our front-line officers and it's been in the media significantly in recent times with police being shot at or firearms being presented at them. There was an interview which the Minister undertook on Newstalk ZB where she said I'm talking about the communities that I represent … the Māori and Pacific communities who told me loud and clear the general arming of police and particularly the armed response teams ARTs are a real concern to them."Now the question I put to the Minister is one that many thousands of front-line officers have been asking. Firstly to the Minister do you stand by that comment? Secondly who do you represent as Minister of Police? Because I put it to you that many police don't feel represented by you as the Minister of Police including many Māori and Pacific police officers who are working day in and day out on the front line trying to keep our community safe. The final part to that question is: is the Government considering widening the role of the armed offenders squad (AOS) or are the Police—I guess it's an operational decision at the end of the day—considering widening the role of the AOS which will effectively introduce armed response teams but simply under a different name or in a different way? I would like some clarity on those issues thank you.Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): Firstly can I say that my absolute commitment is to the safety of our police. They go out there every single day to keep their community safe—to keep our community safe. I've made it very clear that their safety is my utmost concern.Just in regards of: who do I represent? I represent the interests of keeping our police safe. I represent keeping our community safe. I represent Māori and Pasifika who are disproportionately impacted by decisions that we take as a community but also that are disproportionately impacted by all the negative statistics. I represent the people of Christchurch East. I represent people who want to see this country do better for its people. All of those people I represent.Now I'm really clear that when I went to—Simeon Brown: Do you represent New Zealand? What about New Zealanders?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Madam Chair if I could just ask that member—I found it incredibly annoying to try and answer his questions with the constant chatter that he—and look it's entirely over to him. I've got approximately two or three minutes left to answer questions. He can use that time by interrupting me or not that's entirely over to him and I'm just asking him a little bit of respect to be able to answer these questions if that would be OK.Hon Todd McClay: People want the answers not your excuses.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I say again it's a little bit like an episode of The Muppet Show in here with Waldorf and Stanley. So if you could just allow that—Hon Todd McClay: Say that to the victims. Take it seriously for the victims. How about that?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: If the member would just please give me a moment to—Hon Todd McClay: Do your job. You get a really big salary do your job. Stop making excuses.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I'm very clear that when I was challenged by the kaumātua at Matt Hunt's memorial service that I am their whaea and I must keep them safe; that is my utmost responsibility and I will do so."