Helen Clark preached accountability before coming to power, but now when faced with a crisis in Corrections she is failing to act yet again, says National Party Leader John Key.

"Her first step should be to immediately act over Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews' repeated insensitive comments following the release of the reports into Graeme Burton's parole.

"Her next step should be to target Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor over the repeated failures in the Corrections system.

"Mr Matthews comments that he has no blood on his hands are totally unacceptable and an insensitive response that the families of Burton's victims will no doubt be appalled by.

"The comments are not only insensitive, they are untrue. Burton's parole was not well managed, as Corrections absurdly claims. An innocent man is dead and others were injured during Burton's rampage.

"Having a chief executive who can't see that his department failed is unacceptable and at the very least he should be strongly rebuked. Helen Clark wouldn't put up with such comments from CYF in the case of the death of a child.

"The Prime Minister should also act against Mr O'Connor. By wading into the issue herself yesterday she has shown she has no confidence in his ability.

"Essentially she is keeping on a Minister that, through her own actions, she has shown she has absolutely no faith in. Meanwhile, the public are paying the price with their lives.

"All this begs the question of when Helen Clark will finally act and remove Mr O'Connor.

"But I doubt action will be taken given that this Labour Government has sat on its hands and done nothing for the last eight years in office about such failures.

"Helen Clark came to office promising greater accountability, but after so many years all the public are getting is whitewash after whitewash."