Corrections chief 'should not be sacked'

Corrections chief Barry Matthews refused to step down following the Auditor-General's damning report into parole. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The State Services Commissioner said today that corrections chief Barry Matthews should not be sacked.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins received the report into accountability at her ministry from State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie this morning.

Mr Rennie said Mr Matthews's "dismissal of the chief executive would not be justified".

The minister called for the report after the Auditor-General Kevin Brady highlighted problems with parole. She will hold a press conference this afternoon.

Mr Brady looked at 100 parole cases, including 52 high risk offenders and found that in most cases correct procedures were not followed.

Staff did not even carry out some of the special provisions brought in after parolee Graeme Burton murdered Karl Kuchenbecker in January 2007.

Since Mr Brady's report, Ms Collins has declined to express confidence in Mr Matthews, saying that would prejudge the SSC work.

Mr Matthews has said the SSC was his employer and had told him not to comment, even though that was "very attractive". He believed the report would be fair.
Pressed about Ms Collins' refusal to express confidence and whether their relationship was "toxic", Mr Matthews told a select committee he believed he had a good working relationship with her, as he had had with previous ministers.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, with NZPA