Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman

06 March 2006

Collins wants more detail of MSD/CYF merger

“As always with this Labour Government, the devil will be in the detail of the planned merger between CYF and MSD,” says National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins.

“National has long argued that CYF was failing to deliver adequate care and protection to our most vulnerable children. We strongly disagreed with CYF Minster Ruth Dyson’s claims that the department was entering a phase of ‘performance excellence’.

“The merger is a huge embarrassment to Ms Dyson, who has led Labour’s defence of CYF in this Parliament.

“But the devil will be in the detail. The scant information released today fails to address a number of logistical questions and the observer is left asking whether this is a case of doing something so Labour can be seen to do something?

“Even basic questions remain unanswered.

“Where are the figures? Where are the Treasury estimates? What analysis has been done to show that children currently falling through the cracks won’t be worse off in a giant government department?

“The top priority for CYF has to be the welfare of children. So far we’ve seen nothing that suggests this merger will benefit them.

“I’d invite the Minister to be open and upfront with this material, so the public and the people of New Zealand are able to decide if this really is a good idea,” says Ms Collins.

ENDS

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