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Source: ONE News -
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The job security of the boss of our prisons, Barry Mathews, is looking shaky.
Prime Minister John Key has spoken out about a report damning on the Corrections Department's parole protocol, saying New Zealanders can't have confidence in the system.
"The New Zealand public is entitled to expect accountability and quite frankly that report made such damning reading, that they can have no confidence at this point that the department is following an improved set of procedures they promised they would follow," says Prime Minister John Key.
The department Chief Executive Barry Matthews, is now fighting to cling on to his high paying job, after the damning report, which says Corrections is putting public safety at risk with by failing to monitor parole.
"The report reflects very badly on the department and we're a government that expects accountability," says Key.
Despite Corrections showing little improvement in parole management since the murderous rampage of Graeme Burton two years ago, getting rid of Barry Matthews isn't quite that simple.
The employer of all the government department chief executives, is the state services commissioner and there is a reason why he stands between the politicians and the public service.
"We have an impartial politically independent public service and chief executives are employed by the commissioner," says State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie.
Rennie did hint though that public service bosses who fall foul of their minister, have a bleak future.
"It is really very important that ministers and chief executives have highly productive relationships, and I see part of my job as assisting that outcome," he says.
Opposition leader Phill Goff is a bit more blunt.
"When a minister indicates that he or she lacks confidence in a minister the result is almost automatic," he says.
However, former prison boss Peter Grant says that losing Matthews' experience may be worse for the department.
"I'm pretty sure in many ways that sacking Barry Matthews wouldn't solve the problems, it may make it worse," says Grant.
Others are saying there is no quick fix.
"They currently have 260 vacancies and there's also the problem that 46% of the probation officers have less than two years experience," says Kim Workman, a former prison boss.
Matthews went to ground on Wednesday, whether he will stay or go may be revealed when he speaks to media on Friday.
The State Services Commissioner has been given ten days to find
out who in Corrections is responsible for the failure to monitor
paroled offenders.
