Macindoe Tim; Rurawhe AdrianHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Kia ora sir. Thank you. Just before I turn my attention to this Corrections Amendment Bill could I acknowledge the lovely debate that was held prior to this one celebrating the centenary of women having won the right to stand for Parliament in New Zealand. I'm sure we all felt there were excellent contributions from those who spoke. There was plenty of humour pathos and fascinating reflections on changing social attitudes and opportunities over time. I'm sure that all male MPs would endorse the comments that were made by our female colleagues including the hope that in future it will not be seen as remarkable when women are successful in any fields of public life employment or whatever they may aspire to. And if I didn't feel that way I'm sure that my three sisters two daughters wife and mother would all be quick to enlighten me as to the error of my ways. Well having enthusiastically supported that motion I would also have wished to be able to stand here this afternoon to support this Corrections Amendment Bill as a firm belief in effective rehabilitation measures for prisoners has been one of the political goals I have always advocated for most passionately prior to and throughout my political career. When we were last in Government I was encouraged by and very supportive of the work our last Minister of Corrections the Hon Louise Upston and her officials were doing much of which we hope to see continued in this bill. I accompanied the Hon Louise Upston to events and meetings in my Waikato region at which effective rehabilitation was promoted and celebrated.I joined with her in acknowledging with pride former prisoners who were taking advantage of those programmes and turning their lives around. I supported the out-of-gate measures that her predecessor the Hon Anne Tolley had championed to provide the vital support that prisoners depend upon when being released because that is a time of course when they are at their most vulnerable. I've been a strong supporter of PARS the Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Service in my city of Hamilton and I place on record my admiration and gratitude to those who have provided that important compassionate and practical support to many families who have benefited from it. I've been equally supportive of the wonderful care and support provided by the prison care ministry's team in my region over the past 15 years. I had the great honour of speaking at a service recently to acknowledge that work. I've supported many other similar services and initiatives and many caring people the length and breadth of this country to find work to assist prisoners and their whānau and in particular to reduce recidivism. So rehabilitation is a genuine passion of mine and I am hugely disappointed that the current Government has largely removed that focus from the reforms that were under way at the time that Mr Peters changed the Government. The current Minister has announced a target to reduce the prison population by 30 percent but his lofty goal is causing alarm not hope not admiration in many New Zealand communities where violence and a lack of respect for law and order are growing concerns because he's got absolutely no plans for getting there. This bill doesn't deliver them and he stopped the previous Government's work to ensure that an effective rehabilitation plan is delivered for every prisoner. Now that would be a wonderful thing to do. That would make a difference. I can't believe the Minister doesn't support it.Instead as I've listened to Government speakers in this debate—in the hope that they would articulate some measures that will boost rehabilitation and increase public safety—I've been hugely disappointed and so will all members of the public who have been following the debate.So we on this side of the House can't support this bill as it's another failure full of unexplained aspirations and empty promises from a Government that constantly fails to deliver and Ministers who are out of their depth and out of touch with the real concerns of New Zealanders.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): This is a split call. I call the Hon Willie Jackson.