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New Zealand's top prison boss is refusing to quit his job.
Department Chief Executive Barry Matthews is digging his heels in
at Corrections, despite government signals for him to resign.
This follows a damning report in the way the agency handles
paroled offenders.
He says he wants to stay on and drive change in the department, and says he has called the Corrections Minister Judith Collins, telling her this.
"I am absolutely committed to working with Judith Collins to meet her commitments and her government's commitments and I am confident that we can do that together," Matthews says.
Collins, earlier this week, refused to express confidence in him.
Matthews has been under fire after a report slated the way
Corrections handles parole in the wake of the murderous rampage by
Graeme Burton two years ago.
A report by the Auditor General found public safety had been put at
risk with the department not following their own procedures such as
routinely visiting paroled offenders in their homes and ensuring
offenders aren't paroled to live near victims.
Matthews is confident the Government will give his department more
money and that he'll regain the confidence of his minister.
"I do believe she has confidence in me and I do believe I will
still be here at the end of next week," he says.
Do you think Barry Matthews should keep his job? Share your view on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentGB said on 2009-02-21 @ 00:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
Congratulations Paul Henry great interview.. You asked the hard questions that Barry Mathews didn't want to answer. Yes he should resign immediately . His incompetence has cost at least 2 lives.
evenhanded said on 2009-02-20 @ 21:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
After that interview TVNZ should be demanding Paul Henrys resignation by Friday Midnight. Henry is so obviously totally biased that a full and frank discussion is impossible. Words like arrogant and in love with his own pathetic legend come readily to mind!
denizen said on 2009-02-20 @ 19:29 NZDT: Report abusive post
I thought Paul Henry's behaviour in that interview was appalling. All he has to do is chip away at people wear a naff suit and say "arse" alot. He didn't let Matthews finish any answers and basically demanded his resignation. If he didn't want to discuss anything then why bother getting him on the show. Guess that's what you'd expect from the National member for TVNZ.
Chaffe said on 2009-02-20 @ 18:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
No, he shouldn't. For far too long there has been a lack of accountability within the public service. People I know who work there talk of a system where incentives to perform are minimal, and substandard performance is tolerated, and now is, unfortunately, endemic. If departments have a track record of failure and neglignece it should be common sense that those in senior management are replaced. Efficiency and common sense must prevail over appeasement and neglilgence.