KEY POINTS:
Uncertainty about the future of the Corrections Department will not stop the work of implementing the recommendations of reports into the Liam Ashley and Graeme Burton cases, says Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor.
On Monday Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a wide-ranging review of the justice sector, which would see the work of Corrections, Courts and Justice scrutinised.
She would not rule out a merger between Corrections and Justice, which were separated by National in 1995.
Yesterday Mr O'Connor said any ambiguity about the future of the Corrections would not paralyse the operation of a department.
"I think Corrections carries on with a big job at the coalface, and that will have to continue on a daily basis.
"Issues around structure and management are for [Corrections chief executive] Barry Matthews and his other Justice sector CEOs to work through."
Corrections has been under intense scrutiny lately. Mr O'Connor has had to answer pointed questions about the death of North Shore teenager Liam Ashley in the back of a prison van and the parole of convicted murderer Graeme Burton, who killed Wainuiomata man Karl Kuchenbecker after breaching parole.
Corruption inquiries are under way at Rimutaka and Christchurch prisons, and several prison officers have been stood down.
Mr O'Connor said Corrections deserved credit for identifying and acting on possible cases of corruption.
"The fact that we are moving on this area and identifying whether there are problems should be acknowledged. We are not going to turn a blind eye to any of these claimed or identified practices."
The minister said it was important to note that the entire justice system was being reviewed, and that the review would look at issues wider than simply how his department functioned.
"The interface with the other key sectors across justice is one of the issues that has been exposed. How we work together is really important.
"We have been, I think, singled out, but that's politics and we have just got to get on with the job."
Mr O'Connor has faced regular calls for his resignation and National Justice spokesman Simon Power has called the justice sector review a signal of "titanic proportions" that Mr O'Connor did not enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister.
Helen Clark has called Mr O'Connor a hard-working and conscientious minister, and said she was sure he could implement improvements to Corrections operations.
Mr O'Connor said he would continue as minister, and his priority would be to make sure changes recommended in reports into the Ashley and Burton cases were implemented.
"Regardless of any integration at the highest level across the justice sector, the changes we are going to make are necessary.
"My style and the way I operate is more of a pragmatic one. It's to get on and do the job that is necessary. It's a good challenging job in Corrections and I will carry on doing it."
