Barker Rick: Corrections Bill — Third Reading 
Barker Rick: Corrections Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:617;Page:13336] 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts) on behalf of the Minister of Corrections 
: 
 I move  
That the Corrections Bill be now read a third time 
. The law governing the operation of the corrections system the Penal Institutions Act and some sections of the Criminal Justice Act is overdue for reform. This bill will replace that outdated and complex legislation with an Act that will firstly reflect modern conditions and approaches to the management of offenders; secondly set out principles that will guide the future development of the corrections system and the application of corrections law; thirdly be compatible with the Government’s criminal justice reforms—the Sentencing Act Parole Act and the Victims’ Rights Act—particularly in emphasising the central importance of public safety; and lastly be clear and easy to implement. This bill will come into force by Order in Council. A substantial new set of regulations to replace the Penal Institutions Regulations 2000 will need to be made before the bill can come into force. 
During the select committee process a number of sensible changes were proposed to the bill. Most of those were minor technical amendments but there were some substantial proposals as well. One was to enhance public protection by making provision for information sharing between the Department of Corrections and the New Zealand Police. It was also proposed that the bill authorise an information-matching agreement between the Department of Corrections and the New Zealand Immigration Service. Members of the Law and Order Committee also considered that justices of the peace and not just lawyers should be eligible for appointment as visiting justices. However the committee reported the bill back without amendments not because there was anything particularly controversial about the proposed changes but because it was unable to reach agreement on whether the bill should proceed. That was because of the Government’s decision to transfer the management of the Auckland Central Remand Prison to public management. 
Some matters were added to Supplementary Order Paper 213 in the name of the Hon Paul Swain following helpful discussions with Nandor Tanczos and the Hon Matt Robson. In particular the bill has been improved in the following ways. There is now a reference to the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners there are provisions for the chief executive and prison managers to obtain advice from communities significantly affected by corrections policies and practices and the annual report of the Department of Corrections will include reports on those consultation processes and on the activities of inspectors of corrections. Overall the amendments have improved transparency and clarified the matters for which the chief executive and prison managers should be accountable. Decisions to segregate a prisoner for security reasons or to protect the safety of others will be reviewed at least monthly rather than every 3 months. Any extension beyond 3 months will have to be approved by a visiting justice. That will act as a safeguard with regard to the use of the powers of the State. 
Throughout the legislative process the most contentious matter in the bill has been the ending of the private prison contract. I reiterate that the Government’s decision on that matter is based on an important principle. The management of prisons involves the exercise of some of the State’s most highly coercive powers against individuals 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There needs to be direct accountability for the exercise of such powers and that can be best achieved through a Government department that is directly accountable to a responsible Minister. I would like to thank the Department of Corrections officials and the members of the Law and Order Committee for their work on the bill. I also thank all members who have contributed to the debates on this legislation.