Prison work plan stupid, says Sykes

DISCUSSION: Tamati Coffey and Annette Sykes spoke about several issues at a forum yesterday led by Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. PHOTO/ADRIANA WEBER ELECTIONFORUM2014

The National Party's promise to put prisoners into work has been slammed at a local political candidates forum.

About a dozen people turned out to the Community Rotorua Waiariki and Rotorua Election Candidates Forum, held at QE Health yesterday.

Labour Party Rotorua candidate Tamati Coffey and Mana Movement's Waiariki candidate Annette Sykes were the only candidates to take part in the event, which was led by Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. The other seven candidates in the Rotorua and Waiariki electorates were unable to attend.

One of the many topics discussed was the New Zealand prison system, following the announcement earlier this week that the National Party would see prisoners work 40 hours a week if it's returned to government.

Ms Sykes said she thought the policy was "stupid" and would provide an incentive for those people who were unemployed to commit crimes so they could get a job, be it in prison.

"Let's put it simply, someone who doesn't have a job will turn to their mate and say, let's go commit a burglary, that way at least we have a job. It's stupid, and isn't going to help solve anything."

Ms Sykes said she believed prisons didn't work and should only be for those who committed the worst offences. She wanted to see more habilitation and support services for offenders.

Mr Coffey said he did not agree with the privatisation of prisons and said prisons should be not be about making a profit.

He said Labour wanted to focus on preventing young people from committing crimes by upskilling them. By providing training and employment opportunities, it would prevent them from turning towards crime.

Other topics discussed included homelessness, superannuation, child poverty and the idea of a capital gains tax.