3. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
How many corrections facilities does she expect to be managed by the private sector within the term of this Government?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
No decisions have yet been made on the number of prisons that will be privately managed.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does the Minister agree that the concept of Māori-only prisons is contrary to the concept of one rule for all?
Sandra GoudieHon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
In order to deliver the best corrections service for New Zealand. This Government believes that we should not limit our choices. By changing the legislation to allow the private management of prisons, we are giving ourselves a choice.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does the Minister agree with the proposal of her Associate Minister, the Hon Pita Sharples, that the privatisation of prisons “could be a chance for jails to be tailor-made for Māori …”?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Actually, I agree that it would be an opportunity to bring about better outcomes for Māori, because certainly in the Public Service right now we do not do well enough in corrections.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. Can the Minister confirm that Māori organisations will be able to tender to manage privately managed prisons?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes. All organisations with skills, knowledge, and experience in working with prisoners will be encouraged to tender. This will provide opportunities to Māori organisations that currently work with offenders to consider tendering to manage prisons. Joint ventures may also be considered, where appropriate.
Metiria TureiIs GEO Group, which ran the Auckland remand prison under National, the same efficient and better-outcome-producing corporation that in the US put a female inmate in the same cell block as male inmates, who then beat and raped her so that she later took her own life, yet still made a very healthy profit of $61 million of public money?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I am not aware of the situation to which that member refers, but I would say that there is not a perfect record in publicly managed prisons in New Zealand.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Will specific standards and performance measures be able to be applied to each privately managed prison?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes. A separate contract will be developed for each prison that is tendered for private management. In each contract, specific standards and performance measures will be able to be developed to address the unique environment of each prison. For example, specific standards and measures relating to outcome for Māori offenders, who now make up over 50 percent of our prison population, could be included in contracts.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Will she be discussing with her Associate Minister, the Hon Pita Sharples, the implementation of his proposals for Māori-only prisons?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Mr Sharples has not raised that issue with me, but I am always able to discuss matters with Mr Sharples, at any time.