O'Connor Damien: Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
O'Connor Damien: Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 22 June 2010. Volume:664;Page:12076. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour) 
: 
 I will give the previous speaker Chester Borrows one reason why Labour is supporting the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill: this is transitional legislation and it relies on the National Government bringing legislation to this House soon or so those members say. We do not trust the National Government to bring in sensible legislation that will follow on from this. As has been said before this bill flows from an idea when Labour quite rightfully identified some problems with victims seeing themselves as being ill-treated when compensation was paid out. As a former Minister I agree that the Mangaroa situation referred to by the Hon Tariana Turia was a sad state of affairs. The process was a lengthy one and compensation was paid out to prisoners. People at that time said it was rather unfair that prisoners got compensation but they or their family member as a victim of crime were unable to get any assistance. 
In principle as the speakers before me have said Labour supports this but the devil is always in the detail. The fact that the bill and the Government state that we will be bringing back into Parliament later this year another victims’ claims amendment bill makes us wary. That is why we will support this bill but we have reservations. The question that the Minister in the chair the Hon Nathan Guy might be able to answer is this. Today we have a prisoner on the run. The Minister of Corrections and the Minister of Police are one and the same so maybe she can talk to herself and work out who is responsible for this prisoner escaping; but he is on the run. I suppose we can assume that he is under State responsibility and if he commits a crime does this bill kick in? Does this bill provide a process for anyone—victim or prisoner—who may be hurt in the pursuit or the recapture of that particular prisoner? 
Unfortunately we are seeing too much of this. I suggest that we will see a whole lot more problems with prisoners under National Government control under the care protection custody or security of the Minister who has double-bunked up and the down the country and who in my view is creating for herself a powder keg. We will see more problems for prisoners themselves we will see more victims—and many of them will be prisoners because they may have been assaulted by other prisoners. We know there is a huge gang influence in the prison system. 
The question I ask of the Minister in the chair is how this legislation will affect prisoners who might be dealt to or severely harmed in prison under the control of the Government. Does this mean they receive compensation; if so where should it go—to their family? Perhaps the Minister can take a call as there is plenty of time for the Minister who I am sure has some idea of whether this bill will address the issues of compensation that might be claimed by a prisoner who is severely beaten by another prisoner. 
Paul Quinn 
: Come on. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Mr Quinn knows that that happens quite a lot. 
Paul Quinn 
: Do I? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Yes out at Rimutaka close to his home. He knows— 
Chris Hipkins 
: He doesn’t live anywhere near the Hutt. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Is he not near the Hutt? 
Chris Hipkins 
: He doesn’t live anywhere near the Hutt. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: No I suppose he never is out there; I guess that is right. Perhaps he lives in Rimutaka Prison. No I cannot say that. There are some legitimate questions that the Opposition has about this legislation. The previous speaker asked why Labour is unsure about this. I tell the member that it is because it is being passed on the basis and on the assurance that the next legislation coming through will address and assist victims. We have already heard from my colleagues that if someone is a victim of sexual assault then he or she is likely to continue to be a victim because no assistance will be provided by the National Government and its accident compensation system. Maybe the Minister can take a call and answer some of the questions I have for him.