Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:617;Page:13140] 
10.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: How many men convicted of assaulting their wives or partners have been granted home detention that involves them residing at the same house as the person they abused and is this practice consistent with Government policy on domestic violence? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 I am advised by the New Zealand Parole Board support services that it has not been possible to provide the information requested within the time available. This is because it requires a search of all cases where home detention has been granted. However I will provide the information to the member when it is available. All decisions relating to release on home detention are the responsibility of the statutorily independent New Zealand Parole Board. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: When the Minister first became aware of this case what action did he take: imprisoned for beating his wife so badly this offender had to give his wife cardiopulmonary resuscitation to keep her alive was sentenced and released on home detention to live with the woman whom he originally bashed only to bash her again within weeks of his release on home detention with the woman telling the Department of Child Youth and Family Services that she was too scared to refuse having her husband back home on home detention? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Of course the decisions that the member talks about are the decisions of the New Zealand Parole Board not me. However if that is one of the two recent cases in Tauranga I can advise the member that the probation service in its reports to the board indicated concerns about the suitability of offenders residing with their victims. Ultimately however the decision rests with the board. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Since the Parole Board makes decisions in accord with Government policy is the Minister not putting the victims of domestic violence in an invidious position where effectively they have the risk of deciding on the early release of the man who bashed them? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It is the responsibility of the department that I am responsible for to provide information to the Parole Board. It is the Parole Board independent of the Minister that makes those decisions. 
Stephen Franks 
: What is the Government’s policy on home detention and does it justify the release next Monday of Greg Hunt who was sentenced only 6 months ago to 4 years’ jail for stabbing a taxi-driver 30 times including in the brain and assaulting another taxi-driver 7 weeks after threatening yet another taxi-driver with having her throat cut when those three went to the Parole Board last week and were told 1 day later that the 4-year sentence was to turn into home detention the following Monday? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Firstly the policy of home detention was developed by the previous National Government supported by ACT—[ 
Interruption 
] Oh yes it was. Most definitely it was. Secondly— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That question was asked by a member who sits at the back of the Chamber. Other members have been interjecting. I want that member to be able to hear the answer. 
John Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The problem we have is that if the Minister in his answer is going to give inaccurate statements then of course you will get a reaction from the Opposition. That statement was absolutely incorrect and of course you will get a reaction from the Opposition because it is the only defence we have. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is not the only defence the member has. There is provision for other steps to be taken if the answer is inaccurate. I do not mind the odd interjection but I want the member who asked the question to be able to hear the answer. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The practice of Ministers of comparing their performance with the performance of previous Governments may be all right in year 1 year 2 or even year 3 of its term in office but not in year 5. In particular today we heard from the Hon Judith Tizard who cited a 1976 example and got that wrong as well. Hugh Watt’s hare-brained idea won no one’s support in this House. She went back as far as 1976 and raised that as an issue. I am beginning to ask myself when is it appropriate—[ 
Interruption 
] It was in 1976. That member was at kindergarten at the time but it is a fact. The member’s old man might have told her that. The reality is that that is what she actually said in answer to a question. When is a Government going to be responsible for the policies that in its second term it is implementing? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is a debating point. I ask the Minister to answer Mr Franks’ question. He can start again. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In answer to the second part of the question it is the decision of the Parole Board. 
Marc Alexander 
: Does the Minister agree that the victims of domestic violence often find it difficult to leave their abusive partners or notify the police which means that a sentence of home detention for the abusers actually becomes a sentence for their partner-victims and this Government is doing nothing about it? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I do agree with the basis of the member’s question. It is the responsibility of the probation service to provide reports to the Parole Board outlining those kinds of concerns and issues. Ultimately though it is the Parole Board that decides on what happens to a particular person.