5. Family/Whānau and Sexual Violence—Law Reform and Integrated Safety Response PilotJOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister of JusticeFamily/Whānau and Sexual Violence—Law Reform and Integrated Safety Response Pilot5. JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister of Justice: How will the family violence law reforms support the work of the Ministerial Group on Family and Sexual Violence?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister of Justice): The review of family violence law provides a critical foundation for the ministerial group work programme. For example it supports the work of the Integrated Safety Response pilot. The independent risk and needs assessment hub which the reforms enable will mean that we will have an effective way of targeting the redesigned services to families. The ability to set codes of practice will mean consistent practice can be rolled out across the country and changes to information sharing and the flagging of family violence offending on records will mean that the wider system can share crucial information to identify risk and enable tailored responses to victims and perpetrators.Joanne Hayes: What response has there been to the announcement of the reforms? Hon AMY ADAMS: There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the announcement of the reforms which I think shows the widespread desire and willingness of the sector to make these sorts of changes. For example I have seen the reforms described as having the potential to be a game-changer for victims of family violence. I have seen them described as strong and decisive action and as being a massive step forward. I look forward to continuing to work with members right across the House on the package.Poto Williams: As part of her reforms will she ensure that everyone who needs a protection order can get a protection order by guaranteeing that everyone who applies for legal aid for this purpose gets it?Hon AMY ADAMS: A big part of the reforms is ensuring that we address and remove the barriers to getting protection orders some of which are financial and we are addressing that in a number of ways. First of all we are ensuring that it is a much easier process to apply for protection orders. We are funding an advice service to help people work through the process if they do not want to use a lawyer. I would also point out to the member that 94 percent of the applications for legal aid are granted. There is not an income threshold imposed and there is no debt created. Tim Macindoe: What recent announcements has the Minister made around the next phase of the Integrated Safety Response pilot to which she referred in her answer to the primary question?Hon AMY ADAMS: The Integrated Safety Response pilot is a key initiative developed by the Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence to better support family violence victims by improving safety and stopping family violence escalating by intervening and identifying risks earlier. We are already seeing excellent results out of the first pilot site in Christchurch. Last month with Ministers Tolley and Collins I was pleased to announce that the pilot will shortly be extended to the Waikato. Extending the pilot to the Waikato provides us with an opportunity to assess how well the model works across a diverse population including a higher proportion of rural and Māori communities.