Penk Chris; Rurawhe AdrianCHRIS PENK (National—Helensville): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. It occurs to me that in passing this legislation or at least at this initial stage we will be committing an act to correct the Corrections Act—if you'll allow me that palindromic parsing. Essentially of course the Corrections Amendment Bill is what we're speaking to. If I may before I proceed any further wish you a happy New Year. This is in fact the first time that I have spoken in this House in 2018 with the exception of some brief and witty interjections. It possibly reflects the quality of my contribution prior to Christmas so I wonder if in addition to wishing you a happy Chinese New Year in the meantime I should get in early in case my next contribution is similarly delayed and wish you a happy Easter and indeed Anzac Day to follow.In relation to this bill it seems to me that there are some good things in it but of course—as is inevitably the case—there are also some good things that are not in it which we might say are conspicuous by their absence. I'll deal with the first category in the first place: some things that are present that I think are highly laudable and worthwhile—some of which have been touched upon of course by parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the House.In relation to the previous speaker Mr Darroch Ball did point out the provisions in relation to prisoners' knowledge of disciplinary offences. I would support the idea that this is a worthwhile thing for the legislation to cover. I would add on a theoretical basis that if we are to say to people including prisoners that ignorance of the law is no excuse for not following it then we are obliged as a society—and in this case in the executive Government specifically the corrections system—to give them an opportunity to comply with the law by knowing what it is in the first instance. I'd also add the comment that the symbolic value of people who by definition or invariably have entered into the corrections system because they have not followed some more general law—it seems to me very worthwhile that they should start their time in incarceration knowing what the things are that they need to do to comply with the rules of that specific place. So as I say it seems to me a positive move to require explicitly that those operating the corrections system do give those prisoners knowledge of the disciplinary offences.With regard to things that are not in the bill but perhaps might be reducing the prison population by 30 percent is again perhaps a laudable goal of the current Government in so far of course as it does not reduce the safety of the general population but I note that conspicuous by its absence in this legislation is any measure to achieve that. Perhaps that may be coming. I won't hold my breath on that but perhaps in another three months or so when I give my next speech—which just seems to be my current rate of speech making in this House—there will be something further to report in that regard.So with nothing further to contribute at this point I commend the bill to the House on that limited basis and look forward to its passage through select committee and beyond. [Interruption]ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Order! I'm trying to hear who wants to take a call.