4. SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he stand by the statement by Department of Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews that “The question of how we can humanely transport prisoners while keeping the public, our staff and prisoners safe is a complex one, and the Ombudsman’s report into the transportation of prisoners was timely.”?
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Yes. A wide range of measures have already been implemented in response to the reports of the Ombudsman and the prison inspectorate on inmate transport, including the separation of young inmates and the separation of at-risk inmates. This month we will be rolling out the full implementation of waist restraints, and still other measures are being worked through with a view to implementation later this year.
Why did the Department of Corrections transport Graeme Burton five times by road between Auckland prison and Wellington during March and April last year for court appearances, when he could have been held at Rimutaka Prison; and is this putting the safety of the public first?
Absolutely so. He was transported to Auckland prison because—as the member, as Opposition spokesperson on corrections, ought to know—Auckland prison is the only maximum security prison in New Zealand. It was deemed necessary to keep him in that prison.
Martin GallagherHow many times each year are inmates transported, and how often do serious incidents occur in the course of that process?
There are roughly 200,000 occasions each year when inmates are transported. It varies from around 175,000 to 225,000. For example, I can recall from the Ombudsman’s report into Liam Ashley’s death that the number of incidents that occurred in that year was six, with no other incident involving any serious injury that required hospital treatment.
Does he stand by answers to written questions from the former Minister of Corrections, Damien O’Connor, who stated that a 30-bed management unit at Rimutaka is specifically designated to hold maximum security prisoners on a temporary basis until they are transferred to Auckland prison; if so, why was Burton not held there for another month instead of going on five road trips, at a cost to the taxpayer of $19,500?
For the very simple reason that the Department of Corrections, understanding the dangers posed by Burton, determined that he should be in the most secure correctional institution in the country. That is why he was in the maximum security unit at Pāremoremo. Of course, he had to be transported to Wellington, where the court case was being held.
Can the Minister confirm that when Burton was transferred from hospital, following the amputation of his leg, he had already managed to obtain a knife and assault a guard as they were loading him into the van, and how does exposing the public to the risk of someone Mr Matthews describes as being “an extremely dangerous individual” on five 9-hour road trips fulfil the Department of Corrections’ stated intention that he should be held “in the most secure facility available”?
Firstly, he was held in the most secure facility available. Secondly, unlike under a National Government—when the rate of escapes was six times higher than it currently is—when this Government keeps people in custody and transports those people, there is a far better chance that they will stay in custody than when there was the ludicrous situation whereby the National Government allowed people simply to walk away from prisons that sometimes did not even have fences around them.
Can the Minister confirm that Burton was first transferred to Auckland prison in March last year, following his involvement in a 9-hour riot at Rimutaka, and how does he respond to concerns from guards at the time that the department had cowed to Burton’s demands to “Take me back to Auckland or I’ll play up, because all the managers are scared of any attention.”, after the department had already botched his release and probation?
Can the Minister confirm that late last year the Department of Corrections delayed the fitting of a new artificial leg for Burton because of fears that visits to a clinic outside of Auckland prison would allow his criminal contacts on the outside to organise an escape, and why was the department not so concerned about this type of behaviour when it was trucking him up and down the country five times earlier in the year?
What I can confirm is that keeping him in Pāremoremo maximum security prison enabled him to be kept absolutely secure. He did not escape from that prison, unlike the escapes that took place under a National Government when Pāremoremo was run down in its security.
I seek leave to table information obtained under the Official Information Act, showing those five journeys between Wellington and Auckland and their cost to the New Zealand taxpayer.
Madam SPEAKERIf members are going to object they should please do so loudly. I heard no objection at the time when I asked. In future, please indicate loudly.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Why was Burton not trussed up, manacled, put in a straitjacket, and flown by helicopter all the way up and landed inside Pāremoremo prison, so we could avoid having these inane questions from Simon Power on this matter?
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That is an option. I want to know why I am hearing such inane questions as to why somebody was transported by road when he could have gone by helicopter. Maybe there is an answer, because the inane questions are what concern me.
I agree with the member that the questions are inane. Let me say that sometimes people are transported by air. Again, the track record on that, with one exception in recent times that I can think of, has been pretty good. The fact remains that on each occasion that Burton was moved from Auckland to Wellington he did not escape and did not come near to escaping. Therefore, there is no issue.