Addressing the CYF Problem

Thursday 6 Nov 2003 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Social Welfare

In her column this week, ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman, Dr Muriel Newman, has come up with a five-point plan to reduce child abuse and reform welfare in New Zealand.

Dr Newman said the problem of third generation beneficiaries is exacerbated by the Labour Government's approach to welfare: "they know they will be supported by the State".

Acknowledging that "human behaviour is complex" and "there are no simple answers to reducing child abuse", Dr Newman said she believed the five-point plan would "go a long way to building a fence at the top of the cliff so that fewer children have need of a child welfare ambulance at the bottom".

The five-point plan to reduce child abuse in New Zealand: reform welfare; introduce shared parenting; promote adoption; rebuild a community-based family service; and open up the Family Court.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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