Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:612;Page:9046] 
9.  
RON MARK (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Corrections 
: What was his reason for not supporting an inquiry into the operation of the emergency response unit formerly based at Paparua Prison in Christchurch? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Corrections) 
: 
 There were many reasons. That member’s public comment was one of them. 
Ron Mark 
: Noting that one of the reasons the Minister gave publicly yesterday was that he did not want a “parade of former crims” appearing before the committee why would the Minister say such a thing when he knows full well that most of the people who have called for an inquiry or taken legal action against the Department of Corrections over the goon squad are Department of Corrections staff such as Maureen Love John Kinney Tony Dyer Nigel French and a large number of prison officers who are afraid to use the whistleblowers legislation because the managers receiving the complaints are firstly their direct employers and secondly the very people who have sought to cover up this whole affair? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: A narrow inquiry is one thing but providing the opportunity for a political platform for that member to have every ex-criminal in the country who has a whinge against the prison service paraded before that committee is not a good idea. The vast majority of prison officers in this country do a great job keeping us all safe. I would expect that member to be showing more support for them rather than taking the side of every ex-criminal who gives him a ring. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The last comment is out of order and it will be withdrawn by the Minister and apologised for. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What checks and balances are now in place to ensure that a similar unit could not be established in the future? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Given that the unit was established 4 years ago under a previous National - New Zealand First Government and disbanded under a Labour-led Government since the abolition of that unit the public prison service has procedures in place for the allocation of prison officers which means a region can no longer establish such a unit. Also issues of accountability of the chief executive ministerial oversight and complaints by prisoners are all dealt with in the new Corrections Bill currently before the select committee. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: If evidence were presented to the Minister without prejudice to those who supplied it showing that senior executives within the prison service were well aware of the activities of the goon squad and often issued instructions on a daily basis would he then allow an inquiry into the emergency response unit? I tell the Minister that there are people out there who cannot blow the whistle because of the position they currently hold. If they could do it without prejudice and if the Minister would allow that then we could have an inquiry that would expose the bad behaviour. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question has been asked. That was too long. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I am on record as saying that if the member has new and separate allegations around some of the issues that have been made that have not been dealt with I will happily look at it and take appropriate action. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister advise the House as to whether there are former members of the goon squad currently negotiating their employment grievances and whether such negotiations past and present will be made available to the public who will be paying for those through their taxes? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I can confirm that there are some employment issues but those are for the Employment Court not for a select committee. 
Ron Mark 
: Has the Minister heard allegations that the reason the leaders of the goon squad namely Messrs Smith Bird and Kelly were not dismissed from the Department of Corrections as recommended by the Love report was that they have specific information on their two bosses Mr Paul Rushton and Mr Paul Monk regarding dynamite and detonators smuggled into the Paparua prison by Rex Haig Dean Parata and Nigel Johnson that would show that Mr Rushton and Mr Monk have not told the truth regarding the hostage-taking incident in order to protect themselves from investigative action; if he has heard those very serious allegations why has he not launched an inquiry of his own? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: There have been a number of allegations around this matter. They have been investigated and most of them proved to be false or highly exaggerated. I am aware that that member himself makes allegations such as those around the Ukrainian farm workers. Those allegations were proved to be false and the farmer is still waiting for an apology from Mr Mark for the allegations that he made which proved to be utterly without substance. 
Ron Mark 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That Minister knows full well that the statements I made about real salaries for assistant herd managers are available to the public and that the money those Ukrainians were being paid was not what they were fully entitled to. He is deliberately trying to— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has made his point. 
Marc Alexander 
: Can the Minister deny the payouts the Department of Corrections made to inmates Ra O’Dowd Richard Tutenaghe Nikora and John Donnelly—yes or no—and will the Minister justify the circumstances surrounding each case so that the public interest will for once be upheld? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I am aware that there has been at least one payout but once again that is a matter for the Employment Court. It is not a matter for a select committee.