Documents obtained by National under the Official Information Act show that Phil Goff and Matt Robson have been at loggerheads over extending home detention to people on bail since early this year, National Justice spokesman Tony Ryall said today.

"In tonight's Evening Post a spokesman for Justice Minister Phil Goff said the Minister had considered including home detention in the Bail Bill but there were 'complications' that needed further work.

"Correspondence between the Ministers shows that the only complication was Matt Robson; the Ministers couldn't agree.

"Corrections Minister Matt Robson has shown his hypocrisy by touting electronic monitoring (home detention) for violent offenders on parole despite stopping electronic monitoring for those on bail.

"Violent offenders have a 75% risk of re-offending within twelve months, according to figures released yesterday. Yet the likelihood of re-offending on bail for those targeted in the Bail Bill is 40%. Mr Robson wants violent offenders to serve their time at home, maybe even close to the families of their victims.

"Mr Robson again is showing he is completely out of touch with the 92% of New Zealanders who want a tougher approach to violent crime. His response to the Withers Referendum has been kiddies behind bars, sex in prisons and home detention for the worst violent criminals.

"Mr Goff should stop misleading the public by suggesting he might introduce home detention for bail when the fact is that Mr Robson won't let him," Mr Ryall said.

Ends

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