O'Connor Greg; Mitchell MarkCORRECTIONS AMENDMENT BILLIn CommitteePart 1 Amendments to principal ActCHAIRPERSON (Greg O'Connor): Members we come now to the Corrections Amendment Bill. We come first to Part 1; this is debate on clauses 4 to 47A amendments to the principal Act and Schedules 1 and 2. The question that Part 1 stand part.Hon MARK MITCHELL (Minister of Corrections): Thank you Mr Chair. Look firstly I just want to acknowledge my predecessor Hon Kelvin Davis and the previous Government who did the bulk and substantive work on this bill and of course as the incoming Government I was pleased to be able to make what I think are some really important changes and additions especially around the rehabilitation and the delivery of programmes to prisoners on remand inside the Corrections system. It's unacceptable; we have an unacceptably high amount of prisoners on remand in our Corrections system as a result of them trying to get through a court system that's clogged. But whilst they're with us I think it's important—especially those remand accused who are getting no programmes at all delivered—that actually we make an investment and we make the change to make sure that they get a programme delivered and support towards rehabilitation whilst they're with Corrections. The bill makes important changes to the Corrections Act 2004. It changes intelligence provisions in the bill which is going to give Corrections staff a much stronger ability to keep the front line and prisoners safe; this is critically important. Corrections intelligence staff will be able to better identify risks and respond to them. These provisions directly respond to the reality of challenges that Corrections faces every day. As the incoming Minister my number one priority was around staff safety and if the staff are safe then that naturally leads on to a better run prison with an upside for everyone. The Bill includes a number of other important tools for safety. Strengthening the disciplinary process in prisons is one of them. This will ensure the disciplinary process in prisons is more effective and holds prisoners to account. The bill provides for the expanded use of body imaging search searches of prisoners. This change will help prevent contraband such as drugs and cell phones from entering our prisons. This change also ensures the legislation provides flexibility to adapt to future technologies and better supports staff safety. Extending rehabilitation like I said to remand prisoners is one of this Government's priorities. The bill enables limited mixing of remand and accused and convicted prisoners for non-offence -based programmes. The Bill also provides for offence-based rehabilitation for remand convicted prisoners. I also want to acknowledge the minority reports that were submitted by both Labour and the Green parties during the select committee process. In relation to that I want to touch on the Treaty of Waitangi provisions that were removed at the select committee stage. I want to be clear that it's my expectation that Corrections will continue working with Māori. This includes continuing its work with hapū and iwi to deliver culturally responsive rehabilitation. Finally I brought forward an Amendment Paper that makes minor and technical changes to the bill. These changes enhance the workability of the bill and will not change any of the policies in the bill. Mr Chair I look forward to debating the bill.