Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Pleased to take a call on Part 1 of the Corrections Amendment Bill. My point of reference in addressing Part 1 which deals with amendments to the principal Act is actually referencing the report that came to the whole House from the Justice Committee. I want to reference my contribution in Part 1 because the bulk of the Justice Committee report actually addresses components of Part 1. In examining the Justice Committee report it's interesting to note that the committee could not agree but the issues that the bill addresses in Part 1 were well canvassed by the select committee with the exception of the hard-working Labour members of that select committee that did make recommendations. I want to acknowledge the Minister for acknowledging those specific suggestions that Labour members of the select committee made.That's how I want to start my contribution in terms of Part 1 because the first issue that the select committee raised where Labour members made some amendments was the powers and functions of the health centre managers. In the Act itself that is on clauses 6 to 14 which clearly introduces as part of the rehabilitation commitment of this Minister and this Government the taking of mental health very seriously. In clauses 6 to 14 we introduce a process around identifying or self-identifying prisoners at risk—that are a requirement of health needs. I want to acknowledge that part of the bill. That goes in quite substantive detail in this part and that talks about the actual process under clause 14 in the new section 61A which talks about the ongoing assessment for risk of self-harm and it clearly spells out the process that's involved in that.We then turn to section 61B. That talks about initial steps that prison managers and health centre managers must take in respect of at-risk prisoners. So you're starting to see not only in rhetoric but actually in legislation how serious we are taking mental health amongst a huge number of prisoners in our prisons so that we are treating them appropriately. Section 61C—confirmation of at-risk prisoners assessment—again requires the health manager or the prison a 24-hour prisoner at-risk assessment. Section 61D—at-risk management plan. We heard from that side: where's the rehabilitation plan; where's the management plan? Here it is—to the Opposition side. It's in clause 14. It's spelt out very clearly in the process when we're dealing particularly with the health concerns of our prisoners. Section 61E—content of at-risk management plan. It goes on and on. I heard the Minister in his opening statement about this side of the Government not only committing to trying to help prisoners rehabilitate but also doing it while keeping the public safe. There was mention about the use of prison cells. I've heard it clearly from the Minister himself. We don't need them. In this particular part there's reference—actually it's right up the front—in clause 4 Section 3 amended (Interpretation)" which actually does not include a prison cell when defining what a corrections prison is. So it's clearly spelt out our commitment to rehabilitating prisoners in our prisons.But I opened this with a reference to the Justice Committee because we also talked about prisoners at risk of self-harm at the select committee and the recommendations made by Labour about making amendments to clause 14 clause 25 and section 98(7A).There were also discussions and recommendations around decisions relating to a child's placement but also that was in relation to clause 17(1) inserting new section 81A(5A) and then we also addressed at the select committee—the Labour members—prisoners' understanding of information which is clause 9 of the bill. My point is simply that the select committee process is an avenue to not only hear submitters but take on board the expert advice to make constructive recommendations. It's unfortunate that this select committee when considering this bill couldn't come to agreement. But I also turn to the minority report of the National Party again because that's where they start putting down their concerns with this bill and there's only actually two matters that they raised in consideration of this bill. The first one was they felt it didn't address rehabilitation significantly enough. I have just talked under clauses 14 to 16 in Part 1 around the mental health commitment and rehabilitating those prisoners that need that service while they're in prison. The other issue that they talked about was police cells. That's it. All they oppose in this bill is rehabilitation and jail cells and they would not come to the table at the select committee and come up with some recommendations. Instead they completely binned the bill and that's a real disappointment for the democratic processes of this House when we come here to consider bills like we are doing today. It's a lost opportunity for all members of the Justice Committee to be more constructive when we have bills that are going to impact—CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): I'll ask the member—Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: —the lives of all New Zealanders.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): I'll ask the member to come back to the bill thank you.Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: I commend this bill to the committee."