Inquiry Stands By Robustness of Economic Impact Study

The Glenn Inquiry stands by the robustness of the study it commissioned on the economic impacts of child abuse and intimate partner violence “Measuring the Economic Costs of Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence in New Zealand.”

It rejects the interpretation by a New Zealand Herald journalist of one element of a wide range of social research underpinning the assumptions in the study’s indicative cost estimates.

Project leader, economist Suzanne Snively says: “A single news outlet’s take on one set of data cannot be allowed to overshadow 10 months’ careful and intensive effort to gather information sorely needed to guide social policy that save lives.

“The Herald has made a breathtakingly big assertion, one which I reject. The estimate in the study is not ‘flawed’ as the Herald alleges - we made it clear in our report how we arrived at our high-end scenario of cost, and our process for calculating the estimate was well-understood and rigorous."

The caveats around the estimates are spelt out in crystal clear fashion at page 10 of the report, she added.

Ms Snively further pointed out that the recognised leader in the field, the Families Commission, yesterday welcomed her study, which has been peer reviewed.

Inquiry chair Bill Wilson QC says he rejects completely the Herald’s reportage that the Inquiry has “stumbled” and is “ill-fated”.

“In fact the Inquiry has almost completed its work and is on track to produce an ambitious blueprint for change within weeks that has the potential to make a dramatic difference to New Zealand’s appalling statistics.”

Mr Wilson says that ultimately it is the people of New Zealand who will judge the value of the inquiry’s contribution, and they deserve to be able to rely on fair and balanced news media reportage to help form their views.

Ends

© Scoop Media