Turia facing fresh meddling accusations

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Associate Corrections Minister Tariana Turia is facing fresh allegations that she meddled in the treatment of prisoners by asking to see the file of an inmate who wanted his murder charge reduced to manslaughter.

Intensifying its call for Mrs Turia's resignation, the National Party yesterday revealed that a senior policy adviser for the associate minister had e-mailed the Corrections Department about a Kaitoke Prison inmate who wanted his charges reviewed.

Mrs Turia wanted to know if she could look at his file.

It is not known whether the charges were downgraded but National MP Tony Ryall said the fresh evidence demonstrated Mrs Turia had systematically misused her position to try to influence prison authorities.

Corrections Minister Matt Robson said that if a minister requested personal information about an individual from the minister's own department in order to deal with a portfolio issue, it should be provided, unless there was a legal obligation for it not to do so.

He said decisions on criminal charges rested with the courts.

The latest allegation followed National's release of documents detailing Mrs Turia's efforts to stop the transfer of an inmate, get prisoners moved closer to their families and to have an inmate's security classification reviewed.

One of the inmates that Mrs Turia had written letters to officials about had lived with her for a year as a teenager.

National argues the documents show Mrs Turia breached conflict of interest provisions in the Cabinet Office Manual by misusing her power to advantage a "privileged few".

The Government appears determined to tough things out and the Prime Minister has indicated that she has no intention of sacking the associate minister.

Helen Clark went on the offensive yesterday, labelling the National Party accusations "malicious" and aimed at "Maori".

She said Mrs Turia's behaviour was "entirely innocent".

The Prime Minister expressed admiration for Mrs Turia's "good-hearted" nature, saying she deserved a medal, not criticism, for her willingness to take social welfare children into her home.

This reference was to the inmate who was placed in her home for a year by the state.

But the Prime Minister admitted that an e-mail sent by Mrs Turia asking that a prisoner's transfer be stopped was "less than desirable".

She put this down to Mrs Turia's inexperience as a minister and described the attacks against her as "malicious".

Mr Robson told Parliament a conflict of interest did not exist because Mrs Turia had declared her personal connection with the inmate. She also did not exercise any executive decision-making powers, he said.

But National questioned the closeness of the relationship, saying Mrs Turia had purchased an expensive stereo for the inmate and allowed him to use her private home telephone number.

The Government yesterday cocooned Mrs Turia from attacks in Parliament by deflecting Opposition questions to Mr Robson.

MPs spent at least half an hour arguing whether they had a right to question Mrs Turia about her actions, especially considering one of the e-mails asking officials to stop an inmate's transfer was made when she was acting minister.

The Government claimed it was not appropriate for Mrs Turia to answer questions because she had no specific responsibility for Maori inmates, although she had an interest in policy dealing with the issue.

Mr Robson said he had final responsibility and overall control of the Corrections Department.

But New Zealand First whip Ron Mark said the tactic was being deliberately used to protect a junior minister from being accountable to the public.

Mr Ryall said National would not let the concerns drop because it believed Mrs Turia had used her influence as a minister in an inappropriate way.

"MPs do write letters, it's part of their job.

"Everyone has family that they would like to help, but everyone also has boundaries and the minister has overstepped the mark."

What the rules require

Associate Corrections Minister Tariana Turia has been accused of breaching ministerial rules by seeking special treatment for some prisoners.

What does the Cabinet Office Manual say?

* Ministers must be careful not to act in their official capacity in a way that might provide special benefit to family members or personal friends, for instance by trying to intercede on their behalf on an official matter.

* It may not be appropriate for ministers to take part in decision-making on matters affecting family members or personal friends.

* Ministers in charge of a particular portfolio should consider whether they should simply pass concerns on to the department or forward the query to another minister to ensure any possible conflict is managed properly.

* A conflict of interest may arise if a minister's family or personal friends might derive or be seen as deriving some personal, financial or other benefit from a decision or action by the minister or the Government.

* Ministers representing the concerns of consitutents should be clear at all times that they are acting only in their capacity as members of Parliament, by using MP letterhead and signing as an MP.