PM's Post-Cab 8/4/19: Terror Attack Inquiry

PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference 8/4/19: Terror Attack Inquiry

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opened Monday's post-cabinet press conference by (along with an embargo-related jibe at the media) announcing the terms of reference for the royal commission of inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks.

The inquiry will be led by Supreme Court Justice Sir William young and will look at:

• The individual’s activities before the attack, including:

• Relevant information from his time in Australia;

• His arrival and residence in New Zealand;

• His travel within New Zealand, and internationally;

• How he obtained a gun licence, weapons and ammunition;

• His use of social media and other online media;

• His connections with others, whether in New Zealand or internationally;

• What relevant state sector agencies knew about this individual and his activities before this attack; what actions (if any) they took in light of that knowledge; and whether there were any additional measures that the agencies could have taken to prevent the attack;

• Whether there were any impediments to relevant state sector agencies gathering or sharing information relevant to the attack, or acting upon such information, including legislative impediments, and

• Whether there was any inappropriate concentration or priority setting of counter terrorism resources by relevant state sector agencies prior to this attack.

The Prime Minister answered questions around the terms and costs of the inquiry, and other matters including debate over (and possible versions of) a capital gains tax, the Crusaders rubgy team considering a name change, the primary education negotiations and the possibility of more money in the budget, hopes from St John for full funding of their ambulance service, the costs of the planned buyback following new gun legislation, Ardern's meeting with 'those who work in the space' of social media following the March 15 attacks and international action on violent or harmful social media content, the cancellation of the Matakana Anzac Day service citing the current high terror threat level, and the status of the budget responsibility rules.