Smith NickPart 2 Consequential amendments to Corrections Regulations 2005Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson): There's a wonderful doozy in new regulation 66 in clause 35 in Part 2 of this bill that I want to draw to the committee's attention and I particularly want to bring it to the Green Party's attention. I've got a copy of the Green Party policy and it very explicitly says that the Green Party is opposed to double-bunking. In fact the Minister in the chair Kelvin Davis made his career as Opposition Corrections spokesperson on the basis of opposing double-bunking. Well I want to bring to the committee's attention clause 35 in Part 2 of this bill. This is what it says and I'll read it out: Replace regulation 66 with:" a new provision—and let me read what regulation 66 says: "As far as practicable … prisoners … must be accommodated in individual cells." That's the current law and that's being replaced by a new provision that says "A prisoner may be accommodated in a shared cell unless the prison manager is satisfied that the prisoner is unsuited for shared cell accommodation". Now the fascinating part is this: when we got all the legal advice it is absolutely clear as day that this bill makes double-bunking easier. Does the Minister in the chair agree that new regulation 66 makes double-bunking easier? Does any member opposite dispute—Ginny Andersen: Mega-prisons are better are they Dr Smith? Hon Dr NICK SMITH: No no it's a very simple question—a very simple question—that I'd love any member of the Government to answer. Do they agree with Crown Law's advice that new regulation 66 makes double-bunking easier? Does anybody dispute that in the Parliament? Anybody—any whisper? Is there any whisper in the corner of the Chamber from the Green Party? The party that championed and promised New Zealanders that they'd get rid of shared cells is now supporting a bill that will make double-bunking easier. Now I've seen some doozies in my time. I have to say when I was on the select committee I choked on my coffee. I thought to myself that it's not possible that the Green Party and the Labour Party who for nine years have championed against double-bunking would be bringing a bill in to make it easier. I'm truly flummoxed. Hon Willie Jackson: That's understandable. Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Well does Willie Jackson support having the law being made easier to double-bunk? Well I ask the Green Party and Marama Davidson is in the Chamber. She supports double-bunking now. Has the Green Party done a flip-flop on double-bunking? Hon Willie Jackson: Times change. Hon Dr NICK SMITH: "Times change." Oh well I'm delighted—absolutely rapt. I think I can explain it for Mr Willie Jackson. It's the "Steve Maharey principle" and the "Steve Maharey principle" is "Well there's just things that you say in Opposition that you don't do in Government." What a cynical devious undemocratic view we have from the Greens and the Labour Party. Effectively what they're saying in the House on the most contentious political argument about corrections in the last 10 years is that they are going back on their word with the public of New Zealand. Hon Willie Jackson: No we're not. Hon Dr NICK SMITH: That's a breach of trust Willie. I say to Marama Davidson and members opposite you are breaching the faith of New Zealanders. You are undermining democracy. It's wrong it's immoral it's politically manipulative and it's actually bad for this institution of Parliament. You can't go to the voters Willie and say "Vote for me and I'll get rid of double-bunking"—CHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson): Sorry but could you refer to members by their proper name. Dr Smith please refer to members—Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Mr Willie Jackson—CHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson): Thank you. Hon Dr NICK SMITH: —cannot go to the voters in his electorate and say "Vote for me and I'll get rid of double-bunking." and then hop down to Parliament and vote for a bill that will make it easier. Now I can't use the "h" word but it is a double standard and it is an appalling breach of faith. If members opposite want to know why they're in trouble in the polls it's because you keep breaking your promises. You keep breaking your promises. You're saying one thing—Hon Willie Jackson: Read the polls again. Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Well it's meant to be the year of delivery. What is delivered in this bill is exactly the opposite of what Labour and the Green Party promised around the issue of double-bunking."