11. Question No. 11—PoliceSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga) to the Minister of PoliceQuestion No. 11—PoliceSPEAKER: Before I ask the member to ask the question I'll warn the House that the Minister's office has indicated to me that this answer might be slightly longer than normal.11. SIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga) to the Minister of Police: What are her plans if any to reduce gun violence in New Zealand from its highest levels in nearly a decade?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Minister of Police): First of all let me acknowledge the officers involved in the recent Northland shooting. I'm sure every member of this House would join me in commending their professionalism and bravery along with the family of Constable Matthew Hunt who I had the privilege of meeting this week. The Government is committed to continuing the biggest reforms of our firearms legislation in New Zealand's history. Already we have banned military-style semi-automatic weapons magazines and parts; taken 62000 prohibited forearms out of circulation; and passed the Arms Legislation Bill which National voted against. There is a great deal more to do and I intend to make further announcements in the new year.Simeon Brown: What specific actions will she be taking in response to the four incidents in the last three months of shootings against police officers in Northland including the shooting of a police dog this week?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I say that any incidents where the use of weapons is involved is distressing for the police and the community and police are front-line workers who go above and beyond to keep our community safe. We need to support our officers so we can continue to support our communities. But I'm sick of National's virtue signalling on law and order. Under them police numbers fell. They are up: 2200 new constables 1280 new fulltime-equivalents 700 alone focused on organised crime. This Government delivers for police—SPEAKER: Right OK. The member has answered the question.Hon Member: I couldn't hear it.SPEAKER: Order!Chris Bishop: A point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very direct succinct non-political question and it was not addressed by the Minister at all. It was about specific actions the Minister has taken.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I answer by saying that we have increased—SPEAKER: Speaking to the point of order.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Speaking to the point of order I did answer that in saying that we have increased police numbers targeting organised crime by 700. Now they work specifically with gang violence.SPEAKER: And I think if there hadn't been so much noise from the member's colleagues he would have heard that—even if the Hon Stuart Nash wanted it repeated. Right. One more here.Simeon Brown: Will she make it a priority to address increasing firearm violence in Counties Manukau and is she concerned about comments from Police Association President Chris Cahill Front-line officers in South Auckland feel compelled to wear anti-ballistic plate armour because they encounter firearms on a daily basis."?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I say that I support the work of our front-line police. They go out to support us every single day to keep us and our community safe. Chris Bishop: That's a relief.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Can I just remind that member that National voted against tougher penalties on gun crime. National voted against new powers to deal with returning terrorists and National voted against harsher penalties for those who pushed synthetic drugs. Nicole McKee: How will the Government's policy of introducing a firearms register reduce firearm violence?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Reforms to date have been about responding to the need to prohibit dangerous firearms and strengthen and improve the existing legislative and regulatory regime. A key goal of the reforms already agreed by this House is to reduce the likelihood of lawful firearms getting into the hands of people who will use them for harm rather than for legitimate purpose.Simeon Brown: What does she say to Diane Hunt mother of slain Constable Matthew Hunt and the 39000 people who signed a petition to protect police officers who said "They all deserve to come home and there needs to be more deterrence to stop people from thinking they can shoot them as they see fit."?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I had the privilege and honour of meeting with Mrs Hunt and her family. And I have to say to her that I agree that this country needs to support and honour and acknowledge the work of our front-line police staff. I have full confidence that our select committee process will be robust and appropriate and I look forward to the recommendations from her petition.Simeon Brown: Will she support my member's bill the Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill to take guns out of the hands of these violent criminals and if not why not?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Unfortunately National's bill is fundamentally flawed. It would only have targeted gang members with convictions. What about other dangerous high-risk people who are not gang members? It left significant gaps and will not effectively deliver the public safety objectives that we seek.Nicole McKee: Does the Minister expect criminals committing gun violence to actually register their firearms?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The firearms register is targeted at those who would register their firearms so that we can actually identify how many firearms—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume her seat. I'm sick of not being able to hear a member because people are shouting her down. I've had enough of it. The balance of this reply will be heard in silence.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Thank you Mr Speaker. The purpose of the register is to register firearms and we know that those legitimate firearms users will do so. This will allow us to track firearms should they be stolen so that we know—the whole purpose of this for the member is to know how many firearms we have in the community. And we know that legitimate firearms owners will do that and we will be able to track firearms that are then stolen from them.Nicole McKee: Point of order Mr Speaker if I may. My question to the Minister was asking whether or not she expected the criminals to register their firearms but the response I got was that the law-abiding are expected to register them. So I'd like to know—Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker. That is far away from the primary question which asks—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Hon Member: Supplementary?SPEAKER: Well hang on. I haven't ruled on the point of order yet so I'm just trying to get at—and I think the member had a valid point of order and that was it was a very specific question about whether or not the Minister expected criminals to register their firearms. She answered—and people can have a debate about the quality of the answer—another question and she will now answer the supplementary.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Thank you Mr Speaker. I don't expect criminals to do anything lawful. My expectation is that lawful gun-owners will abide by the law and the register. The point of the register is to understand how many firearms there are in the community. Unfortunately if we had been able to have a register—SPEAKER: Order! The member I think in the first sentence actually answered the question."