Alexander Marc: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Alexander Marc: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:617;Page:13142] 
12.  
MARC ALEXANDER (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Is he satisfied with the management of prisons by the Department of Corrections; if so why? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Generally yes. As I have said before the department’s primary job is to keep the public safe and it has consistently performed well when compared with other jurisdictions. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister confirm that Antonie Dixon attempted to take another inmate’s life by setting fire to him over the weekend and did any incident of that nature occur when he was in Auckland Central Remand Prison? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No and no. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: How do New Zealand’s prisons compare internationally? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Very well indeed. It is important to note that in New Zealand prisons the rates of escapes suicides and major assaults have been continually reducing in recent years and compare most favourably with the relevant overseas jurisdictions. I refer the member to pages 23 and 31 of the department’s annual report. That represents an excellent performance in a difficult sector. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister confirm that the departmental committee examining professional ethics and organisational culture in State prisons includes amongst its members the prison staff member who produced his penis for another man to hit who is now a sexual harassment officer as alluded to before and Paul Rushton the man who gave blanket approval to the actions of the “goon squad”; and what does that say about the integrity and confidence that the New Zealand public is expected to have in his ministership of the Department of Corrections? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: As far as the “goon squad” is concerned the member will know that there is an inquiry into that matter which was actually begun under the previous National Government. As far as the second point is concerned the public prison service does a very very good job in a difficult situation and I would ask that member to show a little more support for the difficult job that the men and women in that service are doing on our behalf. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Can the Minister confirm that many of the comparisons made between the public sector prisons and the private management of the Auckland Central Remand Prison by the member who asked the original question and by members of the National Party and other parties are entirely misinformed because when one compares the reoffending rate that does not apply with regard to a remand prison because when they compare costs and say that the private prison is cheaper to run that is based on a complete misunderstanding of how to compare costs between the public prison service and the private prison and because the fact is that the remand prison has a managed muster? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member’s question was far too long. It involves commenting on other party’s policies and is out of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave for Nandor Tanczos to have a fair time to elucidate upon his question because it will give us a chance to see how his mind works. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Perhaps I was a bit too rough on Mr Tanczos. I now want him to ask his question but it is to be directed to the Minister’s responsibilities and it must not include all that massive injection of fact at the end which was out of order. I will give him another chance. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Can the Minister confirm that comparisons between the public sector prisons and the privately run Auckland Central Remand Prison are often based on a misunderstanding of how to compare costs between the two institutions? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I have heard some amazing figures over the last few days as we have discussed the Corrections Bill. What I can advise is that when one compares apples with apples which is not something that members of the Opposition do one finds the costs of the public prison service are $36000 for remand inmates and $43000 for the Auckland Central Remand Prison inmates. 
Ron Mark 
: In the spirit shown by my leader when seeking a second opportunity for Nandor Tanczos to ask a question I seek the leave of the House to be allowed to ask the Minister one further supplementary question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has used up his allocation but he is entitled to seek leave. Is there any objection? There appears to be objection.