7. PAUL QUINN (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
What reports has she received on drug testing in prisons?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
I have received a report that shows that the percentage of positive random drug tests has fallen to 10.5 percent as at the end of February 2009. This is the lowest level ever achieved in New Zealand’s State-run prisons.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The Corrections Amendment Act (No 2), sadly ignored by the previous Government, comes into force on Friday. It provides for new search powers to make it easier to detect drugs, and provides for stronger disincentives to smuggle drugs into prisons.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
More prisoners than ever before will start drug treatment programmes this year. As at February 2009, 333 prisoners had started treatment in a drug treatment unit, almost matching the 346 who started programmes in the entire 2007-08 year. I expect this growth to continue, as the Government is committed to doubling the number of places in drug treatment units over the next few years.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does she stand by her statement on Television One’s Q+A programme on Sunday, 29 March, that, after her term as corrections Minister, she should be judged on whether “we will have fewer prisoners who are taking drugs in prison”; if so, could she define for the House, in percentage terms, what she sees as an acceptable decrease in the number of prisoners taking drugs in prison, so that the New Zealand public can properly hold her to account in the future.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes; and obviously, there has already been a drop, so I suppose, by the member’s standards, I would have actually got there already.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked a specific question in reference—
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Excuse me, Mr Speaker, could you ask the person from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest not to interject on a point of order. [ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERThe member had a legitimate grievance when he raised his point of order. I would ask all members to allow points of order to be heard in silence. But he seriously—
Well, the member should not do that. The member’s point of order is being dealt with. It will be heard in silence. Can the member carry on with his point of order.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
My point of order is that I asked the Minister whether she could confirm—or define, if you will—what she meant in a quote from a Q+A programme where she said that she will be judged on fewer prisoners taking drugs in prison. I did not ask her about what the previous Government did, which she referred to because the previous Government put in place the programmes that gave her the figures she referred to as of February. I asked a specific question, which was whether she can she define what “fewer” means. She made the statement, Mr Speaker.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I point out that the member asked two questions. I answered one; it was “Yes”.
If the honourable member were to check his Hansard I think he would see that he started his question with the words “Can she tell this House”, and the Minister said “Yes”. If one wants answers, then one has to be very precise with one’s questioning. I believe that the Minister did answer that supplementary question.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does the Minister think that a two-thirds decrease in the use of drugs in our public prisons in 10 years would be an acceptable decrease; and is she aware that the Labour Government achieved exactly that—reducing drug use in our public prisons from 34 percent to 14 percent in the decade to 2008—or is she too scared to give the New Zealand people a figure, so that, in her own words, they can judge her accordingly in the next few years?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I am never too scared, actually, but I am happy to say that the improvement in the drug figures was off a very high base. When the Labour Government took over, the rate in the privately run prison was 5.5 percent, and in State-run prisons it was 20 percent. It was a very high rate.
Hon Phil GoffI seek leave to table a document showing that the amount of drug taking in prisons under Labour’s term in Government decreased from approximately one-third of inmates to half—
The document will be a document that I have in my room that will have been based on information provided by the Department of Corrections when I was the Minister of Corrections. [ Interruption]
Points of order should be heard in silence. I must alert members that we have been breaching this very seriously today. Did we establish what the document was?
The document is a document I had from my time as Minister of Corrections, based on information provided by the Department of Corrections.
Leave is sought to table a document from the Department of Corrections. Is there any objection to that document being tabled? There is objection.
David GarrettDoes the Minister agree that a policy of non-contact visits in all prisons would greatly reduce drug availability in prisons; if not, why not; and, if so, will she agree to roll out this policy in New Zealand prisons?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The member might well be correct in his assumption. I have been advised by the Department of Corrections that non-contact visits are now used for inmates who fail drug tests. But I am always willing to look at ideas on how to further reduce drug use in prisons.