Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:632;Page:3677] 
4.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: What reviews if any has Child Youth and Family Services conducted into the infant homicide rate in New Zealand? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) 
: 
 Two reviews have been conducted by or on behalf of Child Youth and Family Services into infant homicide rates. The first was in 1997 and recommendations have been implemented. A further report was commissioned in January 2005. The first draft of that report was received in March 2005. A second draft was received in September 2005 and further work has been undertaken with key stakeholders. That report includes a literature review about the incidence and nature of abuse of young children in New Zealand analysis of data for admissions to hospital for serious inflicted injuries Child Youth and Family Services data and information from police on homicides of children under 5 years. That report is expected to be finalised next month. 
Judith Collins 
: If the Minister decided to go for the current review that she is talking about instead of the multidisciplinary approach review announced in 2004 did she consider at that stage that it might be important to tell the Children’s Commissioner Early Start Christchurch the chief Child Youth and Family Services social worker or even the New Zealand public that she had changed the way that review was going to take place? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The way the review was going to take place has not changed. I advise the member to ask people who know the facts rather than rely totally on the best daily newspaper in New Zealand the 
 Press 
 which on this very rare occasion was totally incorrect in both its headlines and the substance of the article. 
Judith Collins 
: Just to assist the Minister at this stage I seek leave of the House to table a report from 9 October 2004 that sets out the way in which the review was supposed to be taking place including Child Youth and Family Services staff Ministry of Health Starship Children’s Health’s child abuse unit Early Start Christchurch and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Taito Phillip Field 
: What proportion of child homicides in New Zealand concern children known to Child Youth and Family Services? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Four out of every five children who are killed in New Zealand are not known to the department. For every child who dies at the hands of a parent or caregiver there are many other people around them who could have perhaps stepped in and made a difference. Child Youth and Family Services is most often the last link in the protective chain. 
Anne Tolley 
: Why is Child Youth and Family Services incapable of completing reviews and reports anywhere near their proposed deadlines and why are issues like infant homicide and youth justice not considered important enough to be given urgent attention? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: First I advise the member that before asking supplementary questions it is worthwhile listening to the answer to the primary question. I did explain to her colleague Judith Collins that the report which was not prepared by Child Youth and Family Services but commissioned by Child Youth and Family Services did in fact meet the terms of the contract and the draft report was delivered to the department on time. 
Anne Tolley 
: What involvement has the Starship Children’s Health child abuse centre had in the review that the Minister referred to as having its first draft presented to her in March 2005? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: In the draft report that was presented in March 2005 the clinical director of the child abuse unit of Starship Children’s Health was specifically and personally thanked for his contribution to the report. 
Judith Collins 
: Why after a 50 percent increase in funding for Child Youth and Family Services since 2003 has this review not been completed to the point that it can be released more than a year after it was due? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: The report as in the terms of the contract was delivered to Child Youth and Family Services on time. The subsequent period has been used for consulting on what are quite contentious issues contained within the report. It was always intended to be an internal report as was outlined in the press statement issued by the acting chief social worker Craig Smith at the time. It was never intended to be a public report. Frankly if the findings of that report can make any contribution to the work that the public of New Zealand need to do in order to help lower the incidence of child abuse and death in New Zealand it would be worthwhile making that report public. 
Judith Collins 
: How many reviews has Child Youth and Family Services announced in the last 7 years and how many of those reviews have resulted in one child’s life being saved? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Tragically the causal link between reports and child deaths is not as simplistic as the member would wish. I wish it was as easy as that.