Judith Collins MP National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

18 May 2005

National reveals $800,000 personal grievance case at CYF

National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins has revealed that CYF is facing an $800,000 personal grievance claim.

"It is one of two personal grievance claims faced by the Government department. Earlier today, National produced figures showing there has been a near quadrupling in the legal bills at CYF since Labour took office."

Answers to written questions show that CYF is also facing 27 negligence and tortious claims, one claim for a Bill of Rights breach, and one claim in relation to a Judicial review.

"Nearly $1 million has been spent on legal bills in the past year, up from less than quarter of a million dollars in 1999.

"Large sums of taxpayer money is being spent by the department defending itself from allegations of negligence. Clearly, considerable resources are also being spent by CYF to defend itself in personal grievance proceedings.

"In total, nearly $30 million is being claimed in 29 cases. It also appears there are gaping holes in CYF's record keeping, given its inability to provide figures paid out in damages in other years.

"All is not well at CYF, the figures produced today, in the shadow of the Budget, confirm that," says Ms Collins.

ENDS

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