Wall Louisa; McKelvie Ian; Mallard TrevorLOUISA WALL (Labour—Manurewa): I would like to focus on clause 52 which inserts new section 116A Establishment and constitution of suicide and media expert panel". I would like to do that within the context of the make-up of that particular panel. I did want to ask the Minister in the chair Nikki Kaye specifically about the skill set of this particular panel because this panel is being constituted to provide advice to the Chief Coroner about applications for exemptions from the restrictions that apply to the publications of suicide in New Zealand. The members of this committee are going to be experts in suicide prevention with expertise in the media expertise in tikanga Māori and expertise in Māori youth suicide. I want to commend the establishment of this particular expert panel but I do want to ask the question about whether expertise in terms of LGBTI issues is also valid expertise for this particular expert panel.For just a little bit of history so that people know where the establishment of this expert panel came from I would like to acknowledge the previous Minister for Courts the Hon Chester Borrows because it was through him that Law Commission report No. 131 was actually constructed. That was about suicide reporting.This phenomenon of suicide in our country is an issue that we all should be incredibly committed to addressing because if we look at the suicide statistics this 2014-15 reporting year we had 564 deaths by suicide. The previous year we had 529 deaths by suicide. In 2013-14 we had 541 deaths by suicide. I think that if we look at our history of the phenomenon of suicide the issue that this particular establishment has highlighted means that it is incumbent upon us and obviously the coroner's office to do as much as we can to prevent the phenomenon of suicide in our country.We have created this expert panel because there has been debate about whether or not the media reporting of suicide actually exploits a vulnerability in certain members of our community so that they go on and emulate the suicide of somebody else. This copycat phenomenon has really limited our ability sometimes I believe to talk about some of the suicides that happen in Aotearoa New Zealand. The establishment of this particular expert panel is going to enable us to have conversations—and those conversations I want to highlight from parents for example who have lost loved ones and who in retrospect when they look at the behaviour of their children see signs that they did not pick up on. There is an ability I believe to come to a position where we can try to prevent future suicides and ensure that our young people are receiving the help that they need. If this expert panel is going to contribute to that then that is a fantastic achievement of this piece of legislation.I would like the Minister to make a contribution about whether other expertise was sought or whether they think that within the areas that I have mentioned LGBTI issues will be talked about because whether we like it or not the statistics are really clear from youth surveys that if you are an LGBTI young person in New Zealand your rates of suicide attempts are two and three times higher. For our trans kids I think that they struggle not only with their identity but with the fact that they do not have people to talk to about what they are going through. Actually we have an incredibly unresponsive health system. I know of young trans people who if they are lucky enough to access hormones will not be eligible to have the surgical reassignment surgery that they need for 32 years. How is that going to impact on a young trans person who is diagnosed today and has to wait 32 years to receive gender reassignment surgery? Thank you.IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): I move That the question be now put.The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): Yes I think we are in a position—no one else took the call? OK in that case I will just ignore it and we will go straight to the questions. Is that all right?Motion agreed to."