Prisons no place for Government ideology

National is panning the Government's decision to end public-private partnerships in prisons, outlined in the Corrections Bill introduced into Parliament today.

"The Government likes to talk about public-private partnerships, where the public and private sector work together to deliver public services. But the Government is now ending this very sort of partnership which provides for the Auckland Central Remand Prison," says Corrections spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"If public-private partnerships are fine for roads, why aren't they good enough for prisons? If public-private partnerships are commonsense, why then this Bill?

"This is left-wing ideology gone mad. It's clear the spa pool liberals are well and truly in control of our justice system.

"Quite frankly, the actions of the public prisons service are shameful. This year alone, we've seen killers paroled to live next door to their victims' families, parole reporting times ignored, sentences not enforced and cuts to supervision of child sex offenders."

Mr Ryall says National will encourage private sector involvement in providing prison services.

"National believes it is time for a major review of the prison service in New Zealand. The private sector could do this a lot better than Margaret Wilson," says Mr Ryall.

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