Ball Darroch: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBall Darroch: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 24 September 2015. Volume:709;Page:7068. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.DARROCH BALL (NZ First) to the Minister for Social Development: Did Serco visit the South Auckland Youth Justice facility Korowai Manaaki due to any issues identified at that residence?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): I am advised by Child Youth and Family that representatives from Serco have not visited Korowai Manaaki due to any issues identified at that residence. As I said in my answer to question No. 4 nine case managers from Auckland South Corrections Facility visited Korowai Manaaki on 4 May 2015 and the purpose of that visit was to build relationships given that the sites are next door to one another.Darroch Ball: What is she doing now to address the current and serious issues in youth justice facilities given that her Government has had the capacity to make changes for 7 years and that all we have got so far is an interim report that states the obvious?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I outlined earlier I have released that interim report from the expert panel and the accompanying Cabinet paper so that people can see there is a clear path ahead. I have said publicly that I am not going to be rushed into making patched-up changes. That has happened 14 times to Child Youth and Family over various Governments and we are going to do it properly this time so that we get good outcomes for young New Zealanders in State care.Darroch Ball: Is the Minister comfortable with continuing to wait for her panel’s business case to begin addressing reported issues occurring at Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice North including secure cells being left unlocked; RT radios being smuggled out; cellphones SIM cards and chargers being smuggled in; a unit cellphone being stolen by youth to make a 111 call on 6 September; and intimidation of staff by youth; if not what is she going to do about it?Mr SPEAKER: Either of those supplementary questions.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Well I think it is important to realise—in fact it is one of the issues that I have raised with the panel and one of my concerns about the youth justice residences—that they are increasingly being used for remand. In fact when you look at the 20 beds that are available you can see that 17 or 18 of them are being used for remand. Young people can be staying 1 or 2 nights—sometimes up to a week—and in fact the only sentenced young people there could be as few as two or three. I think that is of great concern. It is a security concern especially when you see that despite that large number being in custody in remand less than 75 percent of them are given custodial sentences when they come before the Youth Court. So as the panel in the report shows we do need to have a close look at a better way of dealing with young offenders and we will do that.Darroch Ball: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There is no way that the Minister addressed that question in any way.Mr SPEAKER: As I recall the start of the question was “Is the Minister concerned …” or words to that effect. It has without doubt been addressed according to the Standing Orders.Darroch Ball: Is the Minister comfortable with continuing to wait for her panel’s business case to begin addressing reported issues occurring at Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice North including staff bringing in KFC MP3 players and TVs for some youth; staff bringing in R18 movies like Fifty Shades of Grey for minors to watch; multiple assaults including a serious assault on a staff member just last week; under-reporting of—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The question has been asked. It was too long anyway.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: What I would say to that member is that if he does have concerns of the nature that he is outlining I am very happy that he brings them to me and I will investigate them.Darroch Ball: I seek leave to table a redacted internal letter from Korowai Manaaki dated 20 July 2015 detailing issues at that facility.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular letter. Is there any objection? There is objection.Question No. 10—Mojo Mathers. [Interruption] Order! I am seeking silence for the—[Interruption]. Order! Mr Brownlee! Order! I am requesting silence for this question.