5. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he have confidence in his department; if so, why?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Yes, but there is always room for improvement.
Why did the Minister’s department give Graeme Burton a 2-week head start from when he first breached his parole conditions on 5 December until it notified that breach on 19 December; and why was it so slow to act when the police told it on 30 November: “that if Burton’s parole wasn’t revoked and he remained in the community, that he would kill someone.”?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
All the details around this tragic accident are under investigation. Four inquiries are under way. It is not for me to prejudge the outcomes of those inquiries other than to say that any lessons learnt will be acted on immediately.
Madam SPEAKERConstant interjections of: “Answer the question.”, when Ministers are attempting to answer the question are not helpful to the order of the House.
Can the Minister confirm that the Community Probation Service Operations Manual states: “Conviction or further offending is not necessary before considering recall action.”, and that staff need to bear in mind any behaviour that causes concern or brings about greater risk to the community, as well as any alert or concerns expressed by police; and why did the information received from the police that Graeme Burton was likely to kill someone not lead to immediate recall action?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I do not have the operations manual in front of me, but those words do sound familiar. The questions the member asks will be answered by one or all of the four inquiries under way.
Why did the Minister’s department fail to provide details of Burton’s stand-over tactics and assaults against fellow prisoners, including a claim he broke one man’s arm, when they were serious enough to warrant transferring Burton to another cell to “ensure the good management and safety of others”, or does he think the safety of inmates is more important than the safety of the public?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I am informed that that information was passed on. Those things will be investigated and we will find out—
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Simon Power gets it wrong every time, as he did when he was defence spokesperson and stated that New Zealand should go into Iraq.
Why did it take the Department of Corrections 2 weeks to notify Burton’s breach of parole, when the probation service manual states that parolees on the offender warning system, as Burton was, must be actively managed and some form of enforcement action must be commenced within 1 week of non-compliance; and why did it take 2½ weeks to notify, when the manual states that recall action should be taken immediately when there is repeated non-compliance by those on the offender warning system?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
The member might have one thing right when he quotes from the operations manual. There is a requirement to act immediately. I am informed that they did. However, I am not prepared to prejudge the outcome of those inquiries. I suggest that the member gets it right for once and awaits the outcomes of these inquiries.
Does the Minister agree with the bizarre statement made by his chief executive, Barry Matthews, in regard to Graeme Burton that it is “just unrealistic” to expect that taking action against offenders who breach their parole conditions will prevent them from doing any more harm; if so, how has he allowed parole enforcement to become so lax in his department on his watch?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I reject absolutely that Barry Matthews, myself, or anyone in the department would imply that it is not imperative that we take action and do everything possible to keep the community safe from people like Graeme Burton.