Monday, 14 May 2007
Turner to oppose Bradford Bill
United Future MP Judy Turner today announced she will be voting against the third and final reading of Green MP Sue
Bradford's anti-smacking Bill when it next comes up for debate in Parliament.
"I do believe that the amendment passed last week to clarify the police discretion to not prosecute when it is not in
the public interest to do so, was a definite improvement," says Mrs Turner.
"However, this provision does not apply to Child Youth and Family Services who, like the police, have statutory powers
and can remove your children, limit your access, and eventually in the interests of permanency, place them with a new
family.
"Some would say that it is pure hysteria to suggest that parents will lose their children into care if they lightly
smack their children.
"Well I hope they are right. CYFS certainly don't have to meet the same burden of proof as the police do to make an
arrest, so discretion is even harder to determine.
"Currently this agency has no robust complaints service and because this is lacking there is little feedback across the
department about the need to change social work procedures.
"They do acknowledge that most complaints are about social work provision, but there is no break-down of this to
identify if there are any common themes in these complaints.
"Parents I have dealt with fear making a complaint in case they further jeopardise their case. They feel powerless and
understandably emotional, often lacking the skills needed to make calm representation to staff at the local branch
office.
"To date, not enough has changed in this department to reassure me that good parents are safe, and for this reason… I
am not supporting the third reading of this Bill.
ENDS