4. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
Is the police code of conduct adequate for the administration of the police and the maintenance of public confidence in the police?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
I am advised that the New Zealand Police is confident that its code of conduct is adequate for the administration of the New Zealand Police and the maintenance of public confidence.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does she think it appropriate for a senior police officer who was discovered by a volunteer community patrol slumped over the wheel of his police car, who was asleep behind a service station and was smelling of alcohol while recovering from a drinking session, who was seen only a few minutes later to be driving his vehicle erratically towards his home, and who then refused to take a breath test, to be then rewarded by being granted 6 months’ gardening leave on full pay?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
As I have advised the member, employment inquiries with the New Zealand Police are matters that I cannot comment on.
Sandra GoudieHon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
Nothing. As it is an employment inquiry it is a matter for the employer and is subject to privacy law.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Will she then recommend to the Commissioner of Police changes she may feel would be appropriate to the police code of conduct so as to avoid this situation ever happening again?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The matter that the member refers to is obviously hypothetical, and I would think that the member should understand that under the Policing Act I do not have responsibility for the employment decisions of the New Zealand Police.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your advice. I asked a specific question—not hypothetical—as to whether she, if she saw fit, would recommend changes to the Commissioner of Police in respect of the code of conduct. She is entitled to recommend anything she likes to her officials. That is a specific question; it is nothing to do with a hypothetical matter.
Mr SPEAKERWhere the member is seeking an opinion he may not necessarily get the opinion that he is seeking. I cannot assist him on that.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Does the Minister realise that her continued inability to properly condemn this incident is tarnishing the professional image of the police, who, on the whole, carry out their duties honourably and professionally; and does she agree with the Dominion Post, which noted: “For the sake of confidence in the police, the full facts of the Thomas case must be made public.”?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The supposition on which the member has based his question is incorrect.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Will the Minister now show a modicum of leadership and express—[ Interruption]
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Thank you. I am glad to see the Opposition treat this issue very seriously, Mr Speaker.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Standing Orders are very clear that a person asking a question cannot make remarks or other suggestions in it outside the question. That is exactly what the member has done. He has not even asked his question and he has made a derogatory comment about the Minister.
I accept that procedures in the last 60 seconds have not been great. Would the member please ask his question without provoking disorder.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
When will the Minister show leadership and express her condemnation of and outrage at this incident, given that the Commissioner of Police has said that the police officer in question had a moral duty to undertake a breath test; or does she exhibit outrage only when she is in this House being called to account, as the responsible Minister, by Parliament?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
No matter what my personal views are on this matter, the fact is that police officers are entitled to employment law, and that member, as a member of the Labour Party, should actually have some regard to that.