Monday, 5 February 2007

Turner: Anti-CYF blog and CYF resignations are just a symptom of the system

United Future deputy leader Judy Turner is calling for the Government to treat the cause not just the symptom of widespread unhappiness with CYF, following Google's decision to censor an anti-CYF blogsite and the resignation in protest of two CYF social workers.

"The problem is that CYF have the power to uproot children from their parents which naturally brings the potential to destroy families - yet they are only accountable to themselves," says Mrs Turner.

The resignations of two British-recruited social workers has sparked further scrutiny of the department, amidst claims that children are being removed from their parents with unnecessary abruptness and with little thought to where they could be placed.

Mrs Turner has repeatedly called for an independent complaints authority to be set up, yet the Government remains uncommitted.

"Parents who wish to challenge the conduct or decisions of CYF workers still have to complain about CYF, to CYF, which is unacceptable.

"The Government was so quick to act in approaching Google to stop the blog continuing, but so slow to remedy the real problem here.

"The blog was created out of desperation, by New Zealanders who have nowhere else to go to voice their objections and concerns about their treatment by CYF.

"The Minister for CYF needs to immediately inform the country whether a complaints authority will be established; and if not, explain why affected families and CYF are condemned to continue having their disputes aired in public because CYF is effectively unaccountable," says Mrs Turner.

ENDS

© Scoop Media