Mapp Wayne: Corrections Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
Mapp Wayne: Corrections Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:617;Page:13038] 
Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) 
: 
 It could not have been put better than it was by Judith Collins. This was an occasion when “Swainy” and the boys could have stood tough. Look at them—they are all here backing each other. They could have stood tough. Look at Clayton Cosgrove wailing that he stands tough. That is about as far as it goes. A bit of a wave—that is their tough stand. But in reality we know what happens. They are as weak as custard because as soon as the Prime Minister—and indeed those known as the sisterhood—says that ideology rules these boys cave in. 
Hon Paul Swain 
: That’s not far wrong! 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: The Minister said that that was not far wrong. There are some remarkable confessions here tonight. The boys are not the boys we thought they were. Well perhaps they are the boys we thought they were. 
It is quite distressing to know that a large percentage of the Government knows that this bill is wrong. I know that Mr John Tamihere knows that this bill is wrong. He knows that the private prison works—he has actually said so. All these tough boys know that the private prison system works. They know that it is cheaper yet tonight they will vote to abolish it. That is the tragedy of what we are dealing with today. 
I think it is just an extraordinary comment as to where this Government is taking us. This Government came in 4 or 5 years ago saying that it would bring in a new way that it was listening to the people and that it would not let ideological blinkers stand in the way of common sense. Yet that is precisely what it has delivered us in this legislation. That will be the death of the Government. That is what New Zealanders hate about this Government. They hate the idea of political correctness. They hate the idea that ideology is ruling in the place of common sense. 
In a few minutes the Minister will have the opportunity to vote for sensible policy. If he did that he would be voting against clause 194 of Part 3 because it is that provision that prevents any further extension of the management contracts to private contractors. Yet the Minister is not going to—I was going to use a word that is probably unparliamentary so I will not—be committed to his convictions or to the inner truth that is in the soul of “Swainy and the boys” those tough boys who swagger around on the other side. Instead cravenly he is going to support an ideologically driven position that can only harm this country and that can only cost this country. 
In fact I heard one member earlier from a party that foolishly supports the Government—United Future—say that it would cost $400 million to take this blanket approach. It is a party that says that $400 million is a waste of money yet in 1 week’s time it will vote with the Government. Well the United Future party— 
Ron Mark 
: They will vote the money in. 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: That is true. Its members will vote for the money to support this foolish bill. So it is all very well for them to get up and say “We are opposed to this” but they will vote in the money to implement the bill. These are the times when parties get judged on whether they have common sense. 
In 15 months’ time or less there will be an election. New Zealanders will get the opportunity to judge whether they want an ideologically driven Government that wastes money or whether they want a sensible practical approach that allows the private sector to do what it does best and in this instance that means managing— 
Hon Member 
: Move on! 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: Actually that is possibly one of the best comments tonight. It is time for that crowd to move on and let people who are competent run this country.