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== References ==
== References ==

*{{cite book
| ref = harv
| title = Flying Blind: How the Justice System Perpetuates Crime and the Corrections Department Fails to Correct
| last = Brooking
| first = Roger
| year = 2011
| publisher = Alcohol and Drug Assessment and Counselling
| location = [[Ngaio, New Zealand|Ngaio]], Wellington
| isbn = 9780473180751
| oclc = 746499365
| accessdate = 22 August 2012
}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
| ref = {{sfnRef|Department of Corrections|2001|p=10}}
| ref = {{sfnRef|Department of Corrections|2001|p=10}}

Revision as of 06:25, 22 February 2013

For the American folk singer, see Judy Collins.
The Honourable
Judith Collins
MP
Judith Collins in 2010
Minister of Police
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byAnnette King
Succeeded byAnne Tolley
Minister of Corrections
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byPhil Goff
Succeeded byAnne Tolley
Minister of Veterans' Affairs
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byRick Barker
Succeeded byNathan Guy
Minister of Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded bySimon Power
Minister for ACC
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2011
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byNick Smith
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Clevedon
In office
2002–2008
Majority12,871 (34.9%)
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Papakura
Incumbent
Assumed office
2008
Majority10,277 (32.6%)
Personal details
Born (1959-02-24) 24 February 1959 (age 65)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Political partyLabour Party (1975–1990)
National Party (1990 – present)
SpouseDavid Wong Tung
ChildrenJames
OccupationLawyer
Signature

Judith Anne Collins (born 24 February 1959) is a New Zealand politician and a lawyer with the nickname of Crusher Collins. Hamilton-born and now residing in Auckland, she graduated in law and taxation and worked in this field from 1981 until 2002, including running her own practice for a decade. After 15 years of Labour Party membership, she changed her allegiance to the National Party in 1990, and is now regarded as being on the extreme right of National. She has been in Parliament since the 2002 election and became a front bench Cabinet minister when National first came into government in 2008. Her early ministerial roles were Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs. In the government's December 2011 Cabinet reshuffle, her portfolios changed to Justice (the Justice portfolio includes responsibility for the Law Commission), Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and Ethnic Affairs. With a current Cabinet ranking of five, she is the highest ranked woman. She has a reputation for tough talking and stands out for the confidence that she has in herself.

Early life and career

Collins was born in Hamilton. Her parents were dairy farmers Percy and Jessie Collins of Walton in the Waikato and she was the youngest of six children attending Walton Primary School.[1] In 1977 and 1978 she studied at the University of Canterbury. In 1979 she switched to the University of Auckland, and obtained first an LLB and then a LLM (Hons) and later a Master of Taxation Studies (MTaxS). She met her husband, part-Samoan[2] David Wong Tung, at university. He was then a police officer and had migrated from Samoa as a child. They have one son.[1]

Early in her married life, she and her husband briefly owned a restaurant, Dr Dudding's Restaurant at Hauraki Corner, Takapuna. The site is now being occupied by The Lone Star Restaurant. She had been a keen supporter of the Labour Party from childhood, but personal reflection and life experiences impacted significantly enough on Collins that she switched her support to the National Party.[2]

Collins was previously a member of Zonta International and of Rotary International.[3]

Professional career

After leaving university, she worked as a lawyer, specialising in employment, property, commercial, and tax law. She worked as a solicitor for Subritzky Tetley-Jones & Way (1981–1984), before changing to Simpson Grierson Butler White (1984–1986). She then became a partner at Morton Tee Collins & Co (1986–1989) before becoming an associate at Peak Rogers (1989–1990). For the next ten years of her career, she was principal at Judith Collins & Associates (1990–2000). In the last two years before election to Parliament, she worked as special counsel for Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (2000–2002).[3]

She was active in legal associations, and was President of the Auckland District Law Society and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society (1998). She served as chairperson of the Casino Control Authority (1999–2002) and was a director of Housing New Zealand Limited (1999–2001).[3]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2002–2005 47th Clevedon 48 National
2005–2008 48th Clevedon 12 National
2008–2011 49th Papakura 7 National
2011 – present 50th Papakura 7 National

Collins was elected to Parliament in the 2002 election as National MP for Clevedon. Clevedon, although technically a new electorate, was largely based on the old Hunua electorate, held by National's Warren Kyd. Collins' challenge to Kyd's candidacy in Clevedon was controversial, as sitting MPs were rarely opposed for re-selection. In Parliament, Collins became National's Associate Spokesperson on Health and Spokesperson on Internal Affairs. In 2003, these responsibilities were changed for those of Associate Spokesperson on Justice and Spokesperson on Tourism. She was generally regarded as having performed well and when Katherine Rich refused to give full support to the "tough-on-welfare" Orewa Speech by then-party leader Don Brash, Rich was demoted in February 2005 and Collins became National's spokesperson on Social Welfare instead.[4] Collins then served as spokesperson on Family, and spokesperson on Pacific Island Affairs.

Collins' Clevedon electorate disappeared under boundary changes for the 2008 election. She originally announced her intention to seek the National Party nomination for Howick, which comprises the urban part of her former Clevedon electorate. However, following objections made to the Electoral Commission over draft changes to the boundaries that saw a major redrawing of the adjacent constituency Pakuranga, the draft Howick was redrawn and renamed Botany. Collins then sought and won the nomination for Papakura (which comprises the other half of her former Clevedon electorate) and allowed her colleague, National Party MP Pansy Wong to seek nomination for Botany. Collins won Papakura with a majority of more than 10,000.[5] The National Party formed a government and Collins entered Cabinet with the portfolios of Police, Corrections and Veterans' Affairs. After 2011 election she was appointed Minister of Justice, Minister of Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and Minister of Ethnic Affairs. With a current Cabinet ranking of five, she is the highest ranked woman.[6]

Achievements

Opposition

In 2003, while in opposition Collins campaigned for an inquiry to find out whether New Zealand troops were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and if so any effect this subsequently had.[7] Despite previous inquiries stating otherwise, the committee established that troops were exposed to defoliant chemicals during their service in Vietnam, therefore operated in a toxic environment.[8] This lead to an apology in 2004 from the Government to Veterans and the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support veterans.[9] In 2004 Collins was awarded the Ex-Vietnam Services Association Pin as a result of campaigning for the inquiry.[7]

Main article: New Zealand in the Vietnam War

Minister of Corrections

Collins' increased funding to widen the availability of alcohol and drug treatment programmes from 500 to 1000 prisoners a year. In order to achieve this, Corrections built three new Drug Treatment Units and introduced condensed treatment programmes for prisoners serving shorter sentences.[10] Collins also increased the availability of work programmes in prison,[11] but tightened up on security measures as well, allowing very few prisoners to actually work in the community.[12]

Collins also oversaw completion of the new prison in Mount Eden, Auckland. As Minister she reintroduced private contract management giving the contract for the new prison to British company Serco. Concerns were raised about the new prison's visibility from the street with former Auckland mayor John Banks calling it a "high-rise monstrosity".[13] Collins believes its visibility has a deterrent effect. In a speech at the Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility in October 2009, she said: "Certainly, the belief that they will be caught and punished is the greatest deterrent for criminals".[14]

In June 2010, Collins announced that from 1 July 2012 smoking and possessing lighters in prison would be banned to reduce the risk that smoking and fire presented to prison guards and prisoners.[15] There were concerns about how prisoners would accept such a ban, but a year after its introduction the Corrections Department reported that the ban had been more readily accepted than they had anticipated. The Corrections Department's principal research adviser, Dr Carolina Lukkien, stated that "...improvements in prisoners' self-esteem and confidence were also evident. Health staff reported prisoners telling them that having given up a nicotine addiction means that they feel they can give up other addictive behaviour also."[16] The ban has led to a reduction in fire-related incidents and the production of melted plastic weapons, while the air quality has greatly improved.[17]

However, the Corrections Association president said the ban had contributed to an increase of 180% in violent incidents over a two year period. A current prisoner, Arthur Taylor, appealed the legality of the ban and on 24 December 2012, Justice Gilbert ruled in the High Court in Auckland that a "blanket smoking ban did not serve the purpose of ensuring custodial sentences were safe, secure, humane and effective, and was not 'reasonably necessary' to maintain safety of prison staff and inmates". He therefore declared the ban, which had been operating for 17 months, "unlawful, invalid and of no effect". The Corrections Department circumvented this decision by issuing a new regulation making cigarettes and lighters contraband - and the court ruling was not about these amended regulations.[18]

Main article: Department of Corrections (New Zealand)

Minister of Justice

In 2012, Collins "watered down" some of the changes to legal aid begun by her predecessor, Simon Power. She reduced the charges for family and civil cases, delayed the period before interest is charged on outstanding legal aid debt and dropped a proposal to make it harder to get legal aid for less serious crimes such as theft, assault or careless driving.[19] She did however retain fixed fees for criminal work and the rotation of legal aid lawyers, which attracted criticism from some lawyers.[20] In regard to the compulsory rotation of lawyers, one said: "It's a bit like being told by the state, you can't have your family doctor."[20]

Main article: Legal aid in New Zealand

Controversies

Minister of Corrections

In 2009, Collins questioned the leadership of, and later refused to express confidence in the departments chief executive, Barry Matthews after a spate of bad publicity.[21] However after an enquiry by the State Services Commissioner Hugh Rennie, Matthews kept his job because Corrections had made efforts to improve and had warned National and the previous government that under-resourcing was putting public safety at risk.[22]

Minister of Police

In 2011, Collins tried to take the credit for the reduction of New Zealand's crime rate and a drop in the prison muster as a result of expanding the police force and her Government's "get tough" policies.[23] However, the recent decline in the crime rate may be partly due to softer policing rather than tougher policies. In December 2012, it was reported that Police are using diversion and warnings more frequently instead of charging minor offenders since pre-charge warnings were introduced in September 2010, which has been applied to 10% of the arrests since then.[24] Changing demographics also contribute to reduced offending; most crime is committed by those under the age of 20 and this is a declining proportion of our population, which is slowly ageing.[23]

Main article: Crime in New Zealand

Minister of ACC

In August 2011, a significant privacy breach occurred at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) after the release of details of 6700 claimants to ACC claimant, Bronwyn Pullar. Pullar had been battling ACC since suffering a head injury in 2002—and had 45 separate complaints against the agency—only one of which was about the privacy breaches.[25] In 2011 she and former National Party president Michelle Boag, had a meeting with two senior ACC managers to discuss her concerns. ACC referred the matter to the police claiming Pullar had threatened to go to the media about the privacy breaches. The police listened to a tape recording of the meeting and decided Pullar had no case to answer.[26][27] ACC chairman John Judge continued to insist his version of events was correct and as a result Judith Collins did not renew his tenure on the ACC Board. The chief executive of ACC, Ralph Stewart, also resigned the next day.[28]

ACC had been reluctant to pay Pullar her entitlements and the picture that emerged was of an organisation that was more concerned with its public image than assisting claimants.[27] The fallout from the affair continued in May 2012, when Collins sued Labour MPs Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little for defamation over comments they made on Radio New Zealand linking her to the leak of an email from Michelle Boag following the release of the files.[29] The case was settled after a High Court hearing in November 2012.[30]

Towards the end of 2012, Judith Collins announced that Government had decided to ignore advice from the ACC Board and from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment to cut levies for the 2013-2014 year. If the cuts had been implemented, workers and businesses could have benefited by almost half a billion dollars.[31]

Minister of Justice

After a two-year investigation the Law Commission produced a report for government with 153 recommendations to reform New Zealand’s alcohol laws. While some legislative changes were passed in December 2012, the Opposition and health sector lobbyists say the evidence based advice from the Commission was disregarded by Collins and her predecessor Simon Power with the result that the final legislation "was a pale imitation of the landmark Law Commission report it was based on."[32] Examples include Collins originally announcing a ban in May 2012 of RTDs (ready-to-drink) with 6 per cent alcohol or more from off-licenses. However in the face of criticism from the liquor industry, she back-tracked on this ban, and three months later announced that the industry would develop its own voluntary code "to limit the harm to young people caused by RTDs".[33] The Commission also recommended a 50 per cent tax increase on alcohol (which was dismissed immediately by the Government) and an increase in the purchase age, which was also dismissed after a conscience vote in September 2012.[32] Collins herself voted to raise the purchase age.[34] Overall Collins said "the reforms struck a sensible balance by reducing the serious harm caused by alcohol without penalising people who drank responsibly."[32] Others felt that the changes were weak and would do little to reduce the harm caused by binge drinking.[35]

In December 2012, Collins revealed she had reservations about the report by retired Canadian Supreme Court judge William Binnie, which recommended that David Bain should be paid compensation for the 13 years he spent in prison before being found not guilty at retrial in 2009.[36] She gave a copy of the report to the police and the Solicitor-General and ordered a peer review by a New Zealand judge, Robert Fisher QC, electing not to provide a copy of Binnie's report to Bain's legal team. This lead to accusations from Bain's team and from Justice Binnie that Collins was not following an "even handed process".[37] Collins eventually bowed to public pressure and released the report written by Justice Binnie, the review by Robert Fisher and Binnie's email response to Fisher's review.[38] A month later, Mr Bain filed a claim in the High Court seeking a review of Ms Collins' actions. The claim alleges Ms Collins breached natural justice and the Bill of Rights Act in her treatment of him. It also alleges she "acted in bad faith, abused her power, and acted in a biased, unreasonable and predetermined manner".[39]

Concerns were also raised about Ms Collins' judgement when it was revealed that she had appointed Auckland barrister Robert Kee to the position of Director of Human Rights Proceedings - with a salary of $200,000 a year. Mr Kee is a friend of her husband's. Ms Collins chose Mr Kee for the job against the advice of officials who had recommended someone else.[40]

Reputation

Collins is regarded as being on the extreme right of the National Party; investigative journalist Nicky Hager, when commenting on her 2005 appointment to the Social Welfare portfolio, stated that her "views on welfare would have fitted comfortably into the ACT Party".[4] Journalist Hayden Dewes of The Dominion Post described her as a "welfare hardliner".[41] Collins also claims to be "the minister who brought back deterrence" through her Government's 'get tough' policies such as the three strikes and the car crushing legislation, showing her belief in deterrence.[42][43][44]

Collins also has a reputation for tough talking. New Zealand Herald commentator, Audrey Young, describes Collins as having a "hardball manner [which] has defined her ministerial career" beginning with her refusal to express confidence in former Corrections chief Barry Matthews in 2009.[45] Her blunt manner of speaking was also evident in her description of University of Otago and University of Canterbury students involved in the Undie 500 student riots as "spoilt little rich kids, who think that they are going to be the future leaders of our country".[46] In 2009, she was nicknamed Crusher Collins when she proposed legislation to 'crush' the cars of persistent boy racers.[47]

In 2012, TV3 Political Editor, Patrick Gower, said it was "the year of the ball-breaker" and picked Collins as his personal politician of the year. He went on to say: "She simply smashed her way through the year - nearly everyone who came up against Collins came off second-best." He added that "No doubt this will make plenty of people angry, because "Crusher" has her enemies not just on the Left, but on the Right."[48]

Following her decision to peer review Judge Binnie's compensation report on David Bain, businessman Sir Bob Jones[49] commented that Collins' behaviour displayed "breath-taking arrogance without precedence" and suggested she was unfit to be Minister of Justice.[50] Two months later, a Fairfax Media-Ipsos political poll found 60% believe Bain deserves a payout with only four out of the 1,000 people polled supporting Collin's stance.[51]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Judith Collins (30 August 2002). "Maiden speech" (Press release). Scoop. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b Clifton, Jane (18–24 March 2006). "Leader of the pack". Listener. 202 (3436). Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Hon Judith Collins". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b Hager 2006, p. 145.
  5. ^ "Official Count Results -- Papakura". Wellington: Chief Electoral Office. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  6. ^ Collins, Judith. "Hon Judith Collins - Biography". New Zealand National Party. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b Television New Zealand staff (6 November 2008). "Swing seats: Papakura new battleground". One News. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ^ Chadwick, Steve. "Inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and any health effects of that exposure, and transcripts of evidence: Report of the Health Committee" (PDF). House of Representatives. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Joint Working Group on Concerns of Viet Nam Veterans". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. ^ Department of Corrections 2009, p. 2.
  11. ^ "Prisoner Employment". Department of Corrections. Retrieved 29 December 2012. The Department is developing a new strategy to boost the number of prisoners learning industry-based skills by a further 1,000 prisoners by 2011. Part of that strategy will involve engaging with private companies about meaningful work and training for prisoners.
  12. ^ Brooking 2011, p. 72.
  13. ^ Bernard Orsman (4 December 2007). "Mayor incensed at high-rise jail plan". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Providing skills to break the cycle of offending". New Zealand Government. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  15. ^ Dickison, Michael (28 June 2010). "Prison smoking ban to kick in next July". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  16. ^ Collins, Simon (30 November 2012). "Riot-free move to smoke ban surprises jails". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  17. ^ Davidson, Isaac (2 July 2012). "Prison smoking ban cuts down on jail fires - minister". The New Zealand Herald.
  18. ^ Koubaridis, Andrew (24 December 2012). "Prison smokes ban ruled unlawful". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  19. ^ Davison, Isaac (9 October 2012). "Legal aid law changes watered down". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  20. ^ Cheng, Derek (21 December 2010). "Prisons boss ends six years' hard labour". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  21. ^ Espiner, Colin (10 March 2009). "Head survives and dept in line to get more cash". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  22. ^ a b Misa, Tapu (24 October 2011). "Decline in criminal offending has many causes". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  23. ^ McNeilly, Hamish (3 December 21012). "Warnings reduce court load". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Full list of Bronwyn Pullar's complaints against ACC". The Dominion Post. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  25. ^ Parker, Dan (5 June 2012). "Pullar did nothing criminal - police". 3 News. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  26. ^ a b Fairfax New Zealand (7 June 2012). "Editorial: Time for answers, ACC". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  27. ^ Hartevelt, John (13 June 2012). "ACC boss resigns amid political pressure". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  28. ^ TV3 staff (28 May 2012). "Mallard served papers by faux-constituent". 3 News. Retrieved 30 December 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Bennett, Adam (14 November 2012). "Judith Collins defamation case settled". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  30. ^ Govt ignored ministry call to trim ACC levies by $477m
  31. ^ a b c Davison, Isaac (12 December 2012). "Alcohol reforms 'watered down'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  32. ^ Hartevelt, John (23 August 2012). "6% alcohol limit for RTDs dumped". The Press. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  33. ^ Newstalk ZB staff (30 August 2012). "Drinking age: How MPs voted". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  34. ^ Television New Zealand staff (12 December 2012). "'Hollow' Alcohol Reform Bill criticised by opponents". One News. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  35. ^ NZN (11 December 2012). "Bain report lacking - Collins". 3 News. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  36. ^ APNZ (12 December 2012). "Binnie hits back at Bain report critics". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  37. ^ Young, Audrey (13 December 2012). "Report recommending Bain compensation is 'flawed'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  38. ^ Bain takes High Court action against Collins
  39. ^ Judith Collins picked husband's friend
  40. ^ Dewes, Haydon (2 February 2005). "Rich's replacement a welfare hardliner". The Dominion Post. Wellington, New Zealand. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  41. ^ Trevett, Claire (27 October 2012). "Crusher Collins' eye on reform". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  42. ^ Leask, Anna (12 October 2012). "Call to close three-strikes loophole". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  43. ^ Department of Corrections 2001, p. 10.
  44. ^ Young, Audrey (15 December 2012). "Audrey Young: Collins carries an obstacle of her own making". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  45. ^ 3 News staff (13 September 2009). "Undie 500 Rolls out of Dunedin, leaving carnage behind". 3 News. Retrieved 3 January 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ Kay, Martin (2 March 2009). "'Crusher Collins' vows to take no prisoners". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  47. ^ 3 News (17 December 2012). "Politician of the Year: Judith 'Crusher' Collins". 3 News. Retrieved 2012-12-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ Jones, Bob (6 November 2012). "Sir Bob Jones: Bain case heel-dragging a disgrace". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  49. ^ Jones, Bob (18 December 2012). "Collins' arrogance in Bain case unprecedented". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  50. ^ After 18 years, David Bain case still divides

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Judith Collins.
New Zealand Parliament
New constituency Member of Parliament for Clevedon
2002–2008 		Constituency abolished
Vacant
Constituency recreated after abolition in 1996
Title last held by
John Robertson 		Member of Parliament for Papakura
2008–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Police
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Corrections
2008–2011
Preceded by Minister of Veterans' Affairs
2008–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Justice
2011–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of ACC
2011–present
Preceded by Minister of Ethnic Affairs
2011–present

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