Tony Ryall National Police Spokesperson

27 February 2002

Cover up in Corrections?

The Corrections Department seems to be involved in a cover up over secret payouts to prisoners. So wide is the cover up that even the Minister isn't told what is going on, says National's Police spokesperson Tony Ryall.

"Matt Robson admitted in Parliament today that he was unaware that a total of nine prisoners have received payouts from the Corrections Department since 1999 for being kept inside longer than their stipulated release dates.

"How much are the Minister's officials telling him? Obviously not much, and that leaves a big question mark hanging over why the Department kept him in the dark. The Chief Executive should be well aware of the Government's control-freak attitude on secret payouts.

"The Minister should be taking advice from the State Services Commissioner today.

"If so many inmates are being kept in prison longer than they should be, it shows up a systemic failure in the Department that has to be fixed. A simple computer programme could fix this. It's not good enough for the Minister to fudge the question by saying he's 'not happy' with the situation.

"This is his own backyard, and it needs to be sorted out," says Mr Ryall.

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