Tuesday, 20 July 2004
Salvation Army Welcomes New Families Commission
The new Families Commission is a step in the right direction toward strong advocacy and support for New Zealand
families, said Salvation Army National Social Policy Research Director Major Campbell Roberts.
The Families Commission was launched at Parliament yesterday. It will encourage informed debate on family issues,
comment on family-related policies and commission research about families.
Major Roberts said that families are a fundamental institution of society. ‘The future strength of New Zealand depends
on the strength of our social structures,’ he said. ‘The family is one of our most important social structures and its
continued good health is vital to the future well-being of society.’
The Salvation Army is confident the Families Commission’s six Commissioners, under the leadership of Chief Commissioner
Dr Rajen Prasad, will achieve strong advocacy and support for families.
Major Roberts said that a variety of Government agencies were already strongly advocating economic policy. The addition
of the Families Commission gave some assurance that areas of social policy affecting families will have an equally
strong voice.
‘We hope the commission will concern itself early with promoting research and policy on economic and social areas of the
national life that currently make New Zealand families vulnerable,’ said Major Roberts.
ENDS