Allegations of bribery in prisons and of Winston Peters behaving like Donald Trump were made in Parliament this evening.
MPs continued the Estimates Debate covering a wide range of portfolios. Amongst these was the Corrections Department with Kelvin Davis making further allegations against private prison operators Serco saying this included their guards taking bribes of a $1000 to smuggle a packet of cigarettes into Auckland Remand Prison.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said the government had set up an inquiry headed by former ombudsman Mel Smith and if any MPs had proof of corruption or any other matter they should take it to the inquiry. He said the bad publicity had clouded the good progress made in rehabilitation and reducing the offending
During debate on Vote: Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson accused NZ First Leader Winston Peters of being New Zealand’s Donald Trump after his accusations of waste over the funding of treaty negotiators.
NZ First MP Pita Paraone said Mr Finlayson had taken his leader’s comments out of context and Mr Peters had only mentioned two negotiators earning more than $1 million for their work.
The Appropriation (2015/16 Estimates) Bill committee stage was interrupted when the House rose just before 10pm.
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