Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Power Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:629;Page:1275] 
4.  
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: Does he agree with the statement contained in the 2004-05 Department of Corrections annual report that the “purpose of the corrections system is to improve public safety”; if so is he satisfied that his department is fulfilling this purpose? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 Yes. 
Simon Power 
: Does he agree with police officer X who was interviewed on Radio Live this morning and said: “I certainly don’t think the answer is to say that jails are overcrowded let’s let them all back into the community. I mean they’re there for a reason. They’re there because we need to be kept free from them and safe from them.”; and is it just possible that officer X with over 20 years’ experience has a better idea of who is and who is not a risk to society than the Minister with his catch-and-release policy? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I think it probably relates to Standing Order 377(2)(b) but that is from memory. There was certainly an ironic expression within that question. We have been asked to be strict about those things and clearly that question was out of order. The bit at the end was absolutely unnecessary for the sense of the question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I ask members just to try to restrain themselves from the little ironic twists that they put in questions and answers. 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. We find ourselves in a difficult position because— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes you do. And so do I. 
Simon Power 
: Last week that phrase was not ruled out of order in any way shape or form and the way members on the Opposition side of the House ask questions should not be interpreted in the same light in which that Minister’s reputation has grown with his little abusive remarks at the end of his statements. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Well that last remark was unnecessary! But the member has a point which is that if I as Speaker enforce those rules strictly we will not really have much of a question and answer time. So some common sense has to be observed. But it was a timely reminder of those rules—as in fact we have had from the other side of the House before. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Point of order. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I am sorry; I have ruled on the point of order. Is this a different point of order? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. During your intervention before Simon Power’s latest point of order Simon Power interjected while you were speaking. I ask that the same rules apply to him as are applied to Dr Brash. You were ruling on the previous point of order and Simon Power interjected. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member but I as Speaker also interrupted the member. So we will call that a draw. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I do not know officer X so I am not possibly able to comment on his competency to make a judgment. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Can the Minister confirm that the number of escapes from prisons has dropped since Labour came to power in 1999? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Order please. We want to hear the answer. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Yes indeed. In 1997-98 there were about seven break-out escapes per 1000 prisoners; in 2004-05 the figure was about 1.5 per 1000 prisoners—a considerable drop. 
Tariana Turia 
: When will the recommendations from the report of the Office of the Ombudsmen regarding detention and treatment of prisoners be implemented particularly those urgent recommendations relating to the need for humane conditions that meet international human rights standards? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I have every confidence we are meeting those standards right now and we are working on recommendations from that report to improve the rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into the community. 
Simon Power 
: How can the Minister reconcile his statement that “people who are spending less than 6 months in jail—that is almost 30 percent of inmates—are people who are no risk to society” with the purpose of the corrections system to improve public safety when a quick trawl through the media shows that those inmates include people who habitually drink-drive who defraud vulnerable people who are in their care who sexually assault other human beings and who thumb their noses at already-existing non-incarceration alternatives? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Any offenders who pose any threat to society will not be allowed out into society or to be part of any new programme. I quote from a statement: “Non-violent first-time prisoners may get a small concession for good behaviour and rehabilitation. We would retain the option of home detention for non-violent offenders.” That statement was made by Don Brash the current Leader of the Opposition in July 2004. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Has the Minister read the 1989 ministerial review of the prison system known as the Roper report; if he has which of its excellent recommendations does he intend to implement? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I have read much since becoming Minister. I have not read the Roper report but I understand there are many wise recommendations in it and they will be part of the consideration that is currently taking place. 
Simon Power 
: Who is right: the Minister with his decision to let out 30 percent of the prison population because they are no risk to society or the previous Minister of Corrections Paul Swain who said in March 2005: “Inmate numbers are increasing because this Government has got tough on crime following the 1999 law and order referendum.”? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We are both right. 
Simon Power 
: Will the Minister just confirm that his policy is all about saving money and not about victims’ rights rehabilitating offenders or public safety? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: It is not just about money. It is about all the things that the member mentioned in his question.