Tirikatene RinoRINO TIRIKATENE (Labour—Te Tai Tonga): We've had Mr Bennett tonight who didn't know how many seconds were in a minute and now we've had that contribution. I'm delighted to speak in support of this bill at its second reading. I want to acknowledge the Minister of Corrections the Hon Kelvin Davis for his work in bringing this bill to the House and putting in place the changes in practice within our prison system that have long been called for and which have been implemented through this bill. I want to acknowledge him because we're seeing the results already: a 7 percent reduction in the prison population since we have taken power as a coalition Government. That's a massive impact and especially for Māori because Māori as we know are over 50 percent of the total prison population. So that is an important achievement and I do want to acknowledge the work of the Minister in that regard. But I want to just first of all address the two issues which the Opposition have been waxing lyrical on in their contributions this evening. We've heard about the rehabilitation—these elusive provisions around rehabilitation. They were never contained in this bill. It was never part of this legislation. Whatever they may have created or drafted when they were in Government they should have implemented it. There's no point crying crocodile tears now around some supposed rehabilitation programmes and the like. They were never part—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Why did you take it out? RINO TIRIKATENE: They're not part of this bill so it's totally erroneous what you're talking about. It's not part of this bill that our Minister has introduced. I think they're in some sort of— Hon Meka Whaitiri: Denial. RINO TIRIKATENE: —yeah denial—denial around what might've could've should've happened. You had nine years to do it and failed to do anything about it. So it's a bit rich to have all this fake emotion around rehabilitation programmes and where are they when it was never ever part of this bill. If they were part of whatever that side should've done it when they were in Government. So that's a big red herring. It's a big red herring what they're talking about. What we're debating in this bill and what we debated is unchanged unfortunately from when we spoke at the first reading. From when it was introduced there was no mention of anything around rehabilitation programmes so let's stick to this bill. Let's stick to this bill and please don't try and provide some sort of distractions which are totally irrelevant to the bill that we're debating. So getting back to this bill I want to— DEPUTY SPEAKER: That would be good.RINO TIRIKATENE: —acknowledge the Minister firstly for the measures which we are taking around at-risk prisoners—prisoners at risk of harm. I want to acknowledge the proposed expansion of providing a more tailored individualised—[Interruption]DEPUTY SPEAKER: Can we just stop the crosstalk please. Your colleague is actually trying to speak. RINO TIRIKATENE: Thank you. I want to acknowledge the work of the Labour members of the committee the Government members which has actually led to expanding recommendations which will provide actually more protection care and individualised support for those prisoners that are at risk of self-harm. Let me switch back in the time I have remaining to the issue of the double-bunking which Mr Nick Smith has raised. I've been reassured by the Minister that double-bunking numbers under his watch have actually gone down since we have been in Government. Those numbers are down. So again a totally erroneous argument is being raised by the other side around Oh we are permitting the use of double-bunking." It has been a practice but it's been reducing under our watch and it will continue to as we have seen a steady decline—that 7 percent reduction—and likewise less use of that provision. So the results are actually being achieved. We're not focused on just numbers though—we're not just focused on numbers. We're about delivering results. The results are reflected by the numbers and so I want to acknowledge Minister Davis again for his outstanding work in this portfolio and for presenting this bill a very sensible bill which is going to help in the operational procedures and the handling of prisoners within our corrections system. We know it's desperately needed. We know there are a range of other measures within here—let me see—around safer searches searching for contraband and the like through modern X-ray imaging and other measures like that and the ability for mothers who are caring for their children their babies to have a right of review of decisions around when that may end. I think that shows that we have a heart within our Government as well within the corrections system in terms of all of the different procedures that we are implementing through this bill. So I want to acknowledge the Minister once again for his work. I'm saddened that the select committee was unable to reach a consensus on this bill. Here we are debating it at its second reading and the bill is exactly the same as it was at its first reading. But I am heartened that the Minister will be producing a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) at its committee stage which will put into effect the recommendations that the Labour members of the select committee have so helpfully contributed as likewise in this bill through their contributions and their hard work that were conducted at that stage. Unlike the other side who are preoccupied by fantasy rehabilitation provisions and other erroneous arguments which were never part of this bill our side of the House has gotten on with the job and made some helpful contributions which will be ultimately implemented by the Minister through his SOPs in later stages where we will approve this bill. With that I just want to acknowledge the Minister once again and the work of our Government in this bill and I commend it at the second reading. Kia ora tātou."