Alexander Marc: General Debate 
Alexander Marc: General Debate 
[Volume:620;Page:15476] 
MARC ALEXANDER (United Future) 
: 
 I rise to talk about two issues that are related: inmate numbers and the absurdity of the recent awards of compensation to the so-called mistreated criminals. But before I do that I want to say how disappointed I am in hearing members of the Government Trevor Mallard Rick Barker and David Cunliffe basically express their consternation at National. One knows that there is a shift in the gravitas in the House when those members spend all their time rebuking the Opposition rather than bragging about themselves. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: We always do that. We have been bagging them for 5 years! 
MARC ALEXANDER 
: Well at least members should be creative and humorous about it. That was a pathetic attempt. It was a display of stupidity on the part of all three members and it was ridiculous. 
I want to get on to talk about the substance of why I rose. The first issue is about inmate numbers. We have heard a lot of incredible absurdity from this Government with regard to that issue following the allegations against it of mismanaging its prison portfolio. Clearly that is absolutely the case because the substance of the accusation seems to be— 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I know that my honourable friend from the United Future party does not need my assistance on this issue but I am having difficulty in hearing the member’s contribution. He is not known for his light voice but could I just point out to you that the Hon David Cunliffe has shifted from his usual seat and continues to interject on this member while he tries to make a contribution to this House. I ask you to bring that Minister to order. 
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Well there has been a number of— 
Simon Power 
: But he has moved from his seat. 
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I tell Mr Power that I am speaking and I will be the judge on interjections. 
MARC ALEXANDER 
: The substance of the accusations against this Government when it comes to mismanaging the prison portfolio relies on prison musters tougher sentencing—so called—and police success. In fact I quote something from Minister Swain who said that there was a prediction of 7000 inmates by the year 2008 and then he said that figure was in fact reached by 2004 because of the Government’s tough law and order stance. That is absolute rubbish. 
In fact as early as 1998 the Department of Corrections briefing anticipated that there would be a large increase in prison numbers. The department also anticipated at that time that Northland prison would be operational by 2002 that a new Auckland women’s prison would supposedly be up and running by last year that a replacement prison in Dunedin would open this year and that in the future an East Coast prison would be open by the year 2009. The reason why the three prisons have not been opened and are not operational is precisely the mismanagement of the Department of Corrections by this Government. The bottom line is that this Government did not anticipate a rise in the prison muster. It mismanaged the prison building programme and is now taking police off the front line to fill the gaps. Where have we heard that one before? The fact is that over 200 inmates a night are now locked in police and court cells as a direct result of the mismanagement by this Government with probably more claims to come of the so-called mistreatment and abuse of prisoners and I will get to that shortly. 
The reply was interesting when I asked a question earlier today about a number of bills that are coming through the pipeline including the Parole (Extended Supervision) Amendment Bill the Films Videos and Publications Classification Amendment Bill and the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2). All those measures will increase custodial sentences and raise the possibility of an even bigger increase in the number of remand and sentenced prisoners who are detained in police cells. The Minister effectively turned around and said that the problems were only short term. The situation could have been anticipated—and was anticipated—but nothing was done about it. It is absolute bollocks for this Government to try to claim that the mismanagement could not have been understood and appreciated beforehand. Considering that the new prison capacity is still a way off that must contradict the assertion that there will be longer and tougher sentencing. The Government cannot have it both ways. It cannot say that it is anticipating tougher sentencing fail to provide adequate facilities to house the increased number of prisoners and then turn around and say the problem was not anticipated. What a load of rubbish that is! When the fact is put into the mix that 35000 cases have yet to go to court and some of those involve people on remand how could this Government not have known of the increase in the number? 
One thing that really strikes me and I suppose galls a lot of New Zealanders is the fact that earlier this week we found out that a number of prison inmates have made successful claims for compensation for so-called brutality. The fact is that one of those inmates was serving a life sentence for murder and another was serving a total term of imprisonment of 17 years for serious violent offences including aggravated robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The remaining three inmates were serving sentences of between 6 years 3 months and 3 years 9 months for a range of violent and other offences. Two of those inmates had convictions for aggravated assault against staff of the Department of Corrections and the department had no choice but to put them in segregation.