6. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)
Does she stand by her statement to the House on Tuesday, in relation to the review on infant homicide: “It was always intended to be an internal report, as was outlined in the press statement issued by the acting chief social worker,”; if not, why not?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) Link to this
Yes. My initial advice has been confirmed that the key outcome for this work is to feed back the results into internal planning and development processes within Child, Youth and Family Services and relevant agencies rather than for public release.
Has the Minister actually read the press statement from Child, Youth and Family Services that she referred to on Tuesday, in which the former acting chief social worker stated: “The findings will be shared with community organisations and other agencies who work with new parents.”; if so, why did she tell the House that the report was not intended to be released when it clearly was?
I certainly have read Craig Smith’s press statement of 8 October 2004. It was that statement to which I referred in my original answers to the questions from the member and her colleagues on Tuesday. I certainly stand by that statement. There is a big difference between developmental processes and using report findings to improve them—that, of course, includes agencies other than just Child, Youth and Family Services that may be related to dealings with families—and the public release of a document.
Lynne PillayWhat proportion of child homicides in New Zealand concerns children known to Child, Youth and Family Services?
Four out of every five children who are killed in New Zealand are not known to the department. For every child who dies at the hands of a parent or caregiver there are many other people around who could perhaps have stepped in and made a difference. Child, Youth and Family Services is most often the last link in the protective chain.
Why has the Office of the Children’s Commissioner stated that it has not been involved in the review when it is listed as a participant in the original press statement, when the Minister told the House on Tuesday that key stakeholders had been consulted, when it is part of the Children’s Commissioner’s statutory role to investigate any act done, or omitted, in respect of any child, and when it has a particular responsibility to monitor the actions of Child, Youth and Family Services?
My understanding of the reported comments made by the Children’s Commissioner is that she did not link the conversations she had had with the chief social worker with the report that was referred to her in questioning on Sunday evening by the reporter from the Press. My understanding is that of the four agencies that are named in the 8 October press statement, three have confirmed their subsequent involvement.
Does the Minister agree with the statement made by the previous acting chief social worker that the report “is about identifying those children who are most vulnerable so that all agencies can be cognisant of the support these families need as early as possible.”; if so, why on earth would she not want the findings to be circulated as widely as possible to help raise awareness of the factors that lead to child abuse, neglect, and homicide?
If I may repeat the comments I made to the member on Tuesday, I say that although the report was never intended to be a public report, frankly, if the findings of that report can help make a contribution to the work that the public of New Zealand do in order to help lower the incidence of child abuse and death, it would be worthwhile making that report public.
Can the Minister confirm that New Zealand is ranked third-worst amongst 27 OECD countries for child deaths according to the Social Report 2005; and in light of the fact that Helen Clark described the situation as “shameful” when New Zealand was ranked sixth-worst, what adjective would the Minister use to describe the current situation, which has clearly become worse under her watch?
I could use many adjectives to describe that member’s response to child deaths and other tragedies in New Zealand, but probably none of them is appropriate as a parliamentary term. The fact that any child is killed in New Zealand at the hands of a parent or caregiver is unacceptable, and I am committed to continuing to do everything I can to eliminate that scourge from our society.
Does the Minister agree with the view of Helen Clark, who said in 1994: “We have the sixth-worst record in the world for the abuse of children,”, and that more than just rhetoric was needed to remedy the crisis; if so, has the Minister been asked to explain to the Prime Minister whether she has done anything, other than spout rhetoric and abuse, while the ranking has slipped even further to third-worst?