1. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Did he advise the Prime Minister of his intention to take a suspended prison manager with him on a rugby tour, since the Cabinet Office manual states that “the Prime Minister should be advised in writing of conflicts that are of particular concern or that require ongoing management”; if not, why not?
Has he read the section in the Cabinet Manual that states that “appearances and proprietary can be as important as actual conflict of interest in establishing what is acceptable behaviour”; if so, how would those whistleblowers who made the allegations against the suspended prison manager perceive his inclusion on the rugby tour as anything other than a personal endorsement from the Minister?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I cannot prejudge what they may or may not think regarding the decision. In hindsight, I believe I made the wrong call. It has placed unnecessary stress on my ministerial colleagues, on my staff, and on my triumphant parliamentary rugby team. For that I apologise, and that is why I offered to resign.
Does he agree that despite transferring responsibility for Mr Morgan’s investigation because of Mr Morgan’s relationship with his senior private secretary, his decision to include Mr Morgan on the tour actually strengthened the appearance of a conflict of interest by establishing a direct link between the suspended prison officer and himself that could be perceived to influence the investigation?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Again, I cannot prejudge what perceptions one might or might not draw from this decision. I said that in hindsight I believe the call was wrong. Perhaps it was naive of me to think that I could keep sport free of politics.
Can he confirm reports that indicate that in addition to warnings from his senior private secretary, Mr Morgan himself questioned whether his inclusion in the rugby tour would create a conflict; and if they could both see the conflict it could create, why could he not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I had discussions in my office. I had no direct contact at all with Mr Morgan. As I said before, I now in hindsight realise that that call was the wrong one.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Can I ask the Minister whether Mr Morgan played in any other parliamentary rugby team games prior to going to France and post the launching of an inquiry into the prison officers, in which he was concerned; if the answer is yes, if there was not a conflict of interest in those prior games, why would there be one just because he went to France?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I can confirm that he was an active participant in the parliamentary rugby team for at least 3 years prior to the trip to France and played a very active role in a number of charity games around the country, and for that we are grateful.
How can he now have any moral authority as the Minister of Corrections to speak out against corruption in prisons, when his actions send a message to other staff that zero tolerance does not apply if a prison officer is to travel with the Minister?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
That is a ridiculous assertion. Every inquiry is completely independent of the Minister’s office or anyone in my office. I have full confidence that the inquiry will continue and make its rightful conclusions.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Can I ask the Minister whether he regrets that this country has become so politically correct that even something as innocent as a charity rugby game is now to be the cause of allegations of a conflict of interest, and does he recall the way his colleague Mr Parker was treated when he was found to be totally innocent and did not receive one apology from the people who made the allegations in the first place?
Madam SPEAKERI let the other question from the member go to the Minister, even though it was questionable whether it was within a ministerial responsibility, but the matter had been raised generally. But I think for that question there is clearly no ministerial responsibility.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am not contesting your ruling, but the point I am trying to make is the question that goes to the core of the Minister’s judgment. The point I am trying to make is that this country is so descended to that sort of petty politics that that is a central issue of ministerial responsibility. Personally I believe it is not; I believe that people are entitled to a private life and an opportunity to go offshore, albeit briefly, paid for by themselves. I think I can ask the Minister whether he regrets the circumstances that he is in.
How does he think the 5,800 Department of Corrections staff feel when they hear the Prime Minister say he will continue to be their Minister for the moment, as a punishment; will they feel any better knowing they will be hamstrung by having him as a caretaker Minister until the fifth Minister of Corrections under Labour is announced?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I do not think anyone has ever pretended that the Department of Corrections portfolio is an easy one. I will continue to do my job to make the changes necessary and improvements in the Department of Corrections that we have seen since the National Government let the department languish for too long. We have made huge improvements in reducing the number of escapes, reducing the assault rate in prisons, and expanding the number of drug and alcohol treatment places in prisons. I will continue to get on and do that job.
Does he think that the Prime Minister has confidence in him as Minister of Corrections, and is he confident of keeping the portfolio after the reshuffle?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I believe she has confidence in me to continue in the job as long as she and Cabinet decide that that should be the case.