Simon Power MP
National Party Justice & Corrections Spokesman

30 July 2007

Prison corruption net nabs one more

National Party Justice and Corrections spokesman Simon Power says the arrest of a prison guard with drugs in his car is yet more evidence that Labour was wrong to resist an inquiry into corruption in our jails.

“Corrections Minister Damien O’Connor has resisted at almost every turn Opposition attempts to get a clear picture of what’s happening at the Corrections coalface.

“From the prison building debacle, to the death of Liam Ashley. From the Graeme Burton parole bungle, to corruption within the Department – Labour has refused to take responsibility, show accountability or say sorry.

“When the corruption allegations first surfaced Mr O’Connor was adamant no inquiry was necessary. As each week passes, he’s being proven wrong time and time again.”

Estimates questions show that as at 31 May 2007, there were 29 investigations into breaches of protocol by guards, compared to 17 at the same time last year.

“Labour has tried to argue there are only a few bad apples. If that’s really what the Government believes why is there now a corruption unit at HQ?”

ENDS

See... Estimates Question - Protocol Breaches (PDF)

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