No More CYF Whitewashes
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today demanded an urgent independent
investigation into the case of a six-week-old baby critically injured after being left in his mother's care - after his
two older siblings had already been removed by police.
"This is no simple matter of departmental incompetence. A child's life is in danger after he was left with a woman who
had already had two children - one reportedly covered in faeces and urine - removed by police," Dr Newman said.
"Now, developments in the House have uncovered discrepancies between what CYF Minister Ruth Dyson has told Parliament,
and the facts we know from other sources like the police. It is clear now that either CYF has misled the Minister, or
the Minister has misled Parliament.
"Answers are needed - answers that can only be found through an independent investigation, rather than an internal
inquiry that will prove to be nothing more than the usual whitewash vindication of CYF.
"This child, currently battling for his life in Starship Children's Hospital, is the latest in a long list of children
hurt by CYF incompetence. This is totally unacceptable, and it is time for the Minister to come clean," Dr Newman said.