Simon Power
National Party Law & Order Spokesman

21 June 2006

Chaotic Corrections pays $2m in bonuses

The Corrections Department and its Minister remain in a constant state of denial over their performance, says National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.

“Damien O’Connor admitted today to the Law & Order Select Committee that in the year to June his department had paid $2 million in ‘performance payments’ to staff.

“Judging by their performance over the past year or so, that is a scandal.

“How can Damien O’Connor justify giving an extra $2 million of taxpayers’ money to staff when his department is generally considered by taxpayers to be in a constant state of chaos, and which he constantly admits has ‘got room for improvement’.

“The Minister seems to have forgotten that this is taxpayers’ money.”

Some recent examples of the chaos:

- The rehabilitation programmes are a shambles.
- Community employment schemes with lowest-ever participation rates.
- Contraband continuing to pour in.
- A record number of employment issues, with some staff passing votes of no confidence in management.
- Visits by prisoners to the beach, and easy access to R-rated movies.

“And on top of all this, Corrections Chief Financial Officer John Ryan admits to the committee today that he cannot give an absolute assurance that the total bill for the prisons construction will not exceed $890 million.

“And he still gives $2 million in bonuses to staff who are overseeing that mess. How does that work?”

ENDS

© Scoop Media