National will continue to pursue Corrections inquiry

Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

28 January 2007

National will continue to pursue Corrections inquiry

National has previously asked for an independent select committee inquiry into the Corrections Department and will not be backing off that request, says National Party Justice & Corrections spokesman Simon Power.

He is responding after further revelations in the Sunday Star-Times today about the shambles in the department, this time over alleged corruption by prison guards at the Rotorua District Court.

“I will be asking the committee to consider again National’s request for an inquiry, particularly in light of the events of the last 12 months involving Corrections,” says Mr Power.

“The list of incompetence and sheer negligence at the department just gets longer and longer. On Saturday we had revelations that police tried to get probation officials to recall convicted killer Graeme Burton before he went on his deadly rampage. Police were ignored.

“I’m still stunned that Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews and the person ultimately responsible for all this, Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor, have had little or nothing to say.

“Parole Board chairman Judge David Carruthers commented to the Sunday Star-Times today, and he’s to be admired for at least fronting up in an open and transparent way on the issues surrounding Burton.

“It’s just a shame that Mr O’Connor and Mr Matthews continue the Department’s culture of denial and don‘t have the same view about the need for openness and acknowledgement of failure in the Burton case.

“Mr O’Connor calling for another report just doesn’t cut it anymore.”

ENDS

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