Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Connell Brian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7989] 
9.  
BRIAN CONNELL (NZ National—Rakaia) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he believe that his department can provide “safe secure and humane management of offenders” as outlined in its recent strategic business plan? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Yes. 
Brian Connell 
: Is the Minister aware that Judge Colgan—in an Employment Court case involving a former emergency response unit member better known as the “goon squad” in the Department of Corrections—said with regard to phase four of the operation build-up carried out on the night of 19 December 2000 that it was arguably unlawful; if so what has the Minister done about that and is that what he means in the department’s recruitment catchphrase “Have you considered a career in crime?” 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In answer to the last part of the question no. But I am sure that the member is aware that there were two reports. The first report into various allegations concentrated more on procedural issues like exhibit handling expenses management and the like. In the end when the second report came out when all the other allegations had come to the fore the department made an assessment of them and decided that many of them were without foundation. It is important to note that the officers were subjected to various disciplinary procedures including final warnings. 
Dr Ashraf Choudhary 
: How does New Zealand compare with other jurisdictions in the safe secure and humane management of offenders? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: New Zealand compares very favourably with like jurisdictions on all the key indicators including low rates of assaults escapes suicides and costs per inmate. I am also advised that those statistics have continued to improve in recent years. 
Ron Mark 
: Will the Minister lend his total support to a select committee inquiry into the operations of the emergency response unit in Christchurch Prison and in doing that also enable the select committee if it chooses to do so to interview inmates and prison officers so that the real truth about what happened in Canterbury’s prisons may be known to the public? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I would hope that before the select committee even considered such things it would investigate very thoroughly the two very comprehensive reports that have been done on this matter. As the member will know there were two. Many of the allegations that have been brought to light in public through the media have not been substantiated. 
Brian Connell 
: Do the Minister’s comments made in a speech earlier this month where he congratulated the Department of Corrections on “achieving the results you do” include Paul Monk Paul Rushton Tony Bird Doug Smith and Mike Kelly who were all involved in or linked to the infamous goon squad which achieved results that included dressing up in military uniforms conducting top very very secret meetings in Dunedin running up $480 bar tabs and indecent exposure in a public place; and is that a viable path to promotion within the department? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There are three questions there; two may be commented on. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I most certainly stand by the comments I made earlier last month. I tell that member that corrections officers in New Zealand do an extraordinarily good job in very difficult circumstances. I would expect members on the Opposition side of the House to provide them with some support in the House instead of bagging people like them who do a difficult job all the time.