5. Children in State Care—Addressing Historical Abuse ClaimsJACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentChildren in State Care—Addressing Historical Abuse ClaimsJACINDA ARDERN (Deputy Leader—Labour): My question is to the Minister for Social Development and asks: is she satisfied with her Government's treatment of those who have been abused by the State?Mr SPEAKER: Before I call the Minister my office has been advised that this answer may be longer than normal.Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand that the question on the sheet is actually the Government's treatment" not "her Government's treatment"—in the question.Mr SPEAKER: I did not hear the way it was asked. I will ask for it be asked again and will pursue from there.5. JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development: Is she satisfied with the Government's treatment of those who have been abused by the State?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): Could I congratulate the new deputy leader on her elevation and her first question to me in 6 months as a result. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! Now we will have the continued longer answer than normal. [Interruption] Order! It is a good example that some answers do not help the order of the House. I will now ask the Minister to continue.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: In answer to the question of course I am not satisfied with the Government's treatment of those who have been abused by the State. Any kind of abuse in State care is absolutely abhorrent. That is why this Government extended the previous Labour Government's confidential listening and advice service for 7 years and has focused on settling claims with victims directly and personally wherever possible. We also introduced an optional fast-track process for historical cases of abuse in recognition that the claims process was taking far too long in many cases. Prior to the fast-track historical claims process 2 years ago there had been around 400 historical claims payments totalling over $8 million since 2004—about 9 years. Following this the number of settlements has more than doubled to about 900 with total payments of over $17 million all of course accompanied by an apology from the chief executive. As I have said on many occasions I am also more than willing to add my personal apology to that as I am sure every member in this House would. Nothing can change what has happened in the past but we know that these experiences remain with people and of utmost importance to them is that their experiences are heard and believed and acknowledged in a personal and tangible way.Jacinda Ardern: Is she satisfied with the outcome of the Whakapakari camp abuse case where the Crown paid one Queen's Counsel more to fight tooth and nail than any of the people who were abused ever finally received?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As the House is aware I cannot comment on matters currently before the courts but what I can say is that for more than a decade the Government has recognised the importance of settling claims and we try to settle these claims with an individual as early and directly as is possible. I am advised that in line with Cabinet directions the ministry is required to be represented by the Crown Law Office in any litigation before a court and in fact especially where there are significant and complex claims matters that have considered or will consider areas of law not previously considered in New Zealand and that involve multiple parties and witnesses and have been subject to subsequent appeals.Jacinda Ardern: I seek leave to table a response to an Official Information Act (OIA) request released by the Minister detailing that three-quarters of a million dollars has been paid to one Queen's Counsel to battle just three cases—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Leave is sought to table that particular OIA response. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Jacinda Ardern: Why is she willing to spend millions of dollars fighting historical abuse claims but will not act on the call for a State inquiry into abuse to ensure that it never happens again?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I stated in the previous answer there is a requirement and the Crown does have a responsibility to protect the taxpayers' interests where there are significant and complex claims or matters that will have considerable impact on future taxpayers. We do have that responsibility and we are taking that responsibility seriously.Jacinda Ardern: If all the work that is needed on historical abuse has been done as she claimed in her first answer why did Caroline Henwood the chair of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service which she finished the work of state: "We haven't investigated the department … we haven't spoken to staff … there's been no inquiry … so why wouldn't it happen again?"Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I have met with Caroline Henwood on a number of occasions and I met and thanked the members of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service for the sterling work that they did over the 7 years. All of her recommendations were forwarded into the expert advisory group that I set up to completely review our system of care and protection of children in New Zealand. In fact Caroline Henwood herself met with that panel I understand on at least one occasion—possibly more—to discuss what her findings were and how the new system must ensure that it never happens again. That is why this Government has embarked on a 4- to 5-year programme that completely overhauls the way we deal with our most vulnerable children and young people which has never been seen before in New Zealand.Jacinda Ardern: Can she confirm that one of the recommendations that Caroline Henwood made was that an inquiry take place—and she made that recommendation in 2015—and why has the Minister not acted on it?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes that was the only recommendation from the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service that was not proceeded with. The reason for that as we have said is that all the findings of that service have been put into the inquiry that was done into our care and protection system. The question I ask is what we would gain from an inquiry that revictimises the victims for whom we are trying to get some compensation and some settlement. It is appalling that we would put those people through that again—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon ANNE TOLLEY: We know that what happened in the 1950s 1960s and 1970s was the State institutionalisation of 100000 or more young people. That should never happen again. We are living in a very different environment today. We are overhauling the system. I would welcome the support of the Opposition parties to do just that."