Simon Power
National Party Law & Order Spokesman

7 November 2005

Minister the real problem with Corrections

National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says the Corrections Department could be in for a long and frustrating time if the performance so far of its new Minister is any indication.

“Damien O’Connor seems to be so far out of touch with his portfolio that one could be forgiven for wondering if he’s even in the country.

“He seems to have let the control of our prisons slip badly after just a few short weeks in the job.

“Not only does he not react to the serious problems dogging his department – windows that open too wide in one prison, prisoners being kept in vans on streets, escapes, assaults on guards and Parole Board members, and drug confiscations – but now he doesn’t even know what day it is.

“The seven prisoners charged with assault appeared in court on Friday, not today as Mr O’Connor indicated in a statement this morning.

“If this is the level of overview we can expect in Corrections, we have a problem,” Mr Power says.

ENDS

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