Thursday 13 Jun 2002
ACT Youth Affairs Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman says `New Zealand's Agenda for Children' released today is another
shallow, pointless gesture from a Social Services Minister who specialises in shallow, pointless gestures.
"Steve Maharey's only way to be seen as taking action on issues is to produce glossy reports with absolutely no
substance.
"The Agenda for Children report is 57 pages of waffle which effectively merely tells us that we should be looking after
our children.
"Well, we know that. We have appalling child abuse figures, high rates of youth suicide and all kinds of social
problems our young are suffering. This Minister liked to talk big when in Opposition about what he would do once in
Government. Unfortunately, as the people of New Zealand have found out, talking is all he does.
"What's needed is a concerted action plan with firm recommendations on how to target the problems. Once again Steve
Maharey has utterly failed to deliver.
Ends