9. HEKIA PARATA (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What is the Government doing to prevent violence within families and whānau?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Today is White Ribbon Day. I am sure that I join with the rest of the House in our stand against family violence, particularly against women. This is an opportunity for all New Zealanders to stand up and show that they will not be standing for that sort of family violence. This morning, the Minister of Women’s Affairs and members of the Families Commission joined with the police at the Wellington Railway Station to hand out white ribbons. I can say that it was a fantastic response from the New Zealand public.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Much work has been done to raise awareness of family violence over many years. We have to look only at the increased reporting to see that New Zealanders know that it is not OK. But we are past talking about it; now we need to be doing what we can do, what the Government can do, what the community needs to do, and what families can do to stop violence. Minister Turia is focusing her efforts on the doing.
Sue MoroneyWhy, then, has the Minister allowed her Government to increase the trauma of sexual violence by making it harder for victims of sexual abuse to get help through accident compensation, with 111 people having dropped out of the system already across New Zealand?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
As the House well knows, those matters are complex. Those decisions are made by clinicians, not by politicians, and that is exactly how it should be.
Mr SPEAKERThe House already has that information. The member will resume her seat immediately. Why did the member continue to make that statement to the House when I was on my feet? In what way was that assisting the order of the House? The member was seeking to abuse the position. I will not tolerate that in the future.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the statement by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcoming the changes that the Accident Compensation Corporation has made in respect of sensitive claims.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
It is a statement by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. It is not a document that would otherwise be generally available to members, and given the debate there has been on this issue—
I will take the member’s word for that. Leave is sought to table this document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.