INDEPENDENT NEWS

Corrections' 'prudent' claim is a sad joke

Published: Thu 2 Feb 2006 04:26 PM
Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman
2 February 2006
Corrections' 'prudent' claim is a sad joke
A claim by the Corrections Department that it is a responsible user of economic resources would be funny if it did not involve the cavalier use of public money, says National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.
He is commenting on a Corrections statement that being chosen as a finalist in the Energywise Awards 'is recognition of the hard work Corrections has put into ensuring it is a committed, responsible user of environmental, social and economic resources.'
"You really have to question this claim by Corrections Chief Executive Barry Matthews.
"How can he say his department is a responsible user of economic resources when it is in the middle of a construction budget blow-out of mammoth proportions that is the subject of a review by the State Services Commission and the Treasury?
"In 2002 Mr Matthews' predecessor, Mark Byers, put a price tag of $400 million on the building of four new prisons, but two weeks ago Minister Damien O'Connor said the cost would actually be $890 million.
"How does a $490 million miscalculation equate to being a responsible user of this country's economic resources?
"Each of those prisons was over budget by many tens of millions of dollars but the department still claims it is a prudent manager.
"The department and this Minister have their heads buried in the sand," says Mr Power.
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media