6. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he stand by his statements that he takes corruption allegations “extremely seriously”, and that “We cannot afford to have our hard-working and dedicated staff tainted by the actions of a few.”?
How will hard-working and dedicated staff see his decision to take a suspended prison officer on a parliamentary rugby tour as anything other than some sort of personal endorsement of that staff member, and does not this make a mockery of his claims that he takes such allegations extremely seriously?
Does he stand by his statement regarding allegations of corruption at Rimutaka Prison: “I encourage the individual who has made them to take the information to Mr Patten to have them thoroughly investigated.”; if so, how forthcoming does he think potential whistleblowers will be when they see that an employee who is suspended then accompanies the Minister on a parliamentary rugby trip?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes, the Minister does stand by that invitation. He does not believe that in that kind of circumstance, even though a bad call was made, the prospect of somebody going on a parliamentary rugby trip would deter somebody from levelling serious charges against that person. A number of parliamentarians who have been on parliamentary rugby trips have had a variety of charges levelled against them, not least in this House.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Having regard to the number of finance houses that have gone down recently and the number of serious crimes in our streets, is it proper use of Government or taxpayers’ resources to be hounding a man for playing a simple game of rugby, offshore, in his own time, even though he might be the subject of an inquiry that has yet to produce its findings, and how lily-livered is that?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I certainly think it is an example of playing the man, rather than the ball. But, of course, that is precisely what Mr Key was complaining of only a week or two back, when he was too weak to stand up to any such criticism.
Is it the Department of Corrections that is actually being punished by having a caretaker Minister who will not be able to make any important medium or long-term decisions in the weeks leading up to the reshuffle, at a time of year when prison numbers are at their peak, Budget bids are being put together, and reports on a number of inquiries, including ones into corruption, are shortly due to be released?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Even assuming that there is such a thing as a reshuffle, presumably in the interim every Minister is holding his or her portfolio in anticipation that it may change.
How can the 5,800 Department of Corrections staff in New Zealand have any confidence that the case for their department is being advocated for in any meaningful way around the Cabinet table for the foreseeable future, when the Prime Minister has made it crystal clear that the Minister is in a caretaker role until a reshuffle occurs?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I can assure the member that all matters relating to the Department of Corrections portfolio continue to attract considerable attention from Cabinet. It is one of the few areas where, for example, every week we examine the number of people in custody, keeping track of what is going on within the prison system.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Minister of Corrections heard the Prime Minister say earlier that she has confidence in the Minister, and the Minister believes absolutely what the Prime Minister says on such matters.