5. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does she stand by her statement on Close Up last night that “prison is a very expensive place to send somebody to sort out their drug and alcohol problems. I’d much rather they were sorted out in the community”?
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
When she said that, was she aware that at least two drug and alcohol treatment units, based in Blenheim and Auckland respectively, are preparing to close their doors on offenders with drug and alcohol problems?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Yes, and I have spoken to the Minister of Health, and he has advised me that in the case of the Blenheim institution, the matter is being dealt with by the Ministry of Health, which will be taking over the matter. In relation to the other issue, which I think is in the member’s electorate, the matter is being dealt with in another way as well.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
If she is advocating with the Government to sort out drug and alcohol problems within the community, why has her Government decided to discontinue the funding previously provided for St Marks Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre in Blenheim, and for the Care NZ clinic in Ōtāhuhu—not in Christchurch—both of which have been providing community rehabilitation services for offenders?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I have done my best to answer a question that could have been directed to the Minister of Health. Quite clearly, the Department of Corrections does not have responsibility for drug and alcohol treatment in the community, and I would have thought the member, as an experienced member, would know that.
Melissa LeeWhat is the Government doing to help offenders with drug and alcohol problems while they are in prison and after they leave?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
We know that drugs and alcohol are major drivers of crime in New Zealand, and that two-thirds of our prisoners enter jail with drug and alcohol problems. That is why this Government is committed to doubling the number of drug and alcohol treatment unit places from 500 to 1,000. Just last week I opened a drug and alcohol treatment unit at Otago Corrections Facility, and two further units at Wanganui and Auckland prisons will be completed by next year. I have also asked the Department of Corrections to look at an “outside the wire” drug treatment unit to help prisoners address drug and alcohol issues after they leave prison. Work is now under way to see how this initiative could be implemented— something the previous Labour Government never did.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Has she as Minister of Corrections at any time advocated to any of her colleagues that the Government should continue to fund the St Marks Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre or the Care NZ clinic in Ōtāhuhu?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I speak to my colleagues all the time, and I am constantly talking about the need to have drug and alcohol treatment services both inside and outside prisons.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. With respect, that was a straight question. It asked specifically about advocacy, or the lack of it. It was not pertaining to a whole host of agencies, but to the St Marks Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre and the Care NZ clinic at Ōtāhuhu. It specifically asked whether she had advocated in respect of those two entities.
Mr SPEAKERHon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I speak to my colleagues all the time about this issue, and I am surprised to hear, as I understand, that the member asking the question has never advocated for this himself.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I will not waste your time. My point of order stands: the question was not about what I or any other colleague has done. It was not about discussions the Minister may or may not have had in general; it was about advocacy, or lack of it, for two specific entities.
The point of order is a reasonable one. The primary question did not exactly point to where the member’s supplementary question has gone, and that is why I invited the Minister to reply, if she had the information. But it is a reasonable question to ask whether the Minister had advocated for issues relating to the Minister’s responsibility. The last answer from the Minister was not very helpful in attacking the questioner, and I think that the House would be interested in knowing whether the Minister advocated on those issues.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I make clear that I have spoken to the Minister of Health about this issue in relation to both of these institutions.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
What credibility does her Government’s claim—that it is focused on the drivers of crime—have when programmes all around the country that have proven successful in preventing recidivism, such as St Marks, Care NZ Clinic, the Wellington Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society, and Te Hurihunga are closing down due to her Government’s decisions to withdraw funding?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Well, it has an awful lot more than the previous Government has, frankly. The fact is we are increasing drug and alcohol treatment by 100 percent in our prisons within 3 years, whereas the previous Government had 9 years to do something about it and never did a thing. Those members sit there, and grandstand, instead of actually dealing with the issue.