5. Question No. 5—ChildrenJAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 5—Children5. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Children: Does he agree with Royal Commissioner Paul Gibson that The experiences of disabled survivors shared with the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry describe a terrible history. But it would be a mistake to believe this remains in our past"; if so what interventions are in place if any to ensure a disability rights focus within Oranga Tamariki?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister for Children): First can I just thank the member. I think this is an important conversation to have—that we do shine a light on the experiences of our hapori whaikaha—so thank you very much. In terms of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry it has undoubtedly highlighted some traumatic experiences suffered in the care system. So it's important that we do listen to the survivors and that we ensure that this doesn't happen again. It's also important to remember that ensuring disability rights are strongly in focus as a whole system—it doesn't just come down to one agency because many disabled tamariki have multi-layered issues. But Oranga Tamariki is driving change across the system through the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan; the Oranga Tamariki Future Direction Action Plan; through the appointment of a Disability Advisory Group; through appointing a Chief Advisor Disability; through the development of a disability strategy to be completed by May 2023; through examining whether residential care is fit for purpose; and also through having appointed Ruth Jones to the ministerial advisory board as a voice for our hapori whaikaha.Jan Logie: Has he seen Paul Gibson's further statement that "Many families who had disabled children faced a hopeless search for community-based services an acute lack of any support for their child to be cared for within the home" and if so will he ensure the strategy prioritises safety of care within the home?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Yes I have seen that comment and that's what I say about the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan—make sure that the whole system is looking after the needs of the children. So it's not just about Oranga Tamariki it's not just about Education it's not just about Health; every agency has a responsibility to look after the needs of our disabled community in particular in the home.Jan Logie: Are disability rights systematically included in staff training—in light of the stories of survivors of abuse in State care—and if not when does he expect this to happen?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Not necessarily as a result of the inquiry into abuse in State care but as part of the Future Direction Action Plan where social worker practice is a key element of that plan. We are making sure that social workers do have the skills to look after children from across society including those with disabilities.Jan Logie: Acknowledging the Minister said the strategy was due in May 2023 does he have a sense of when disabled children and their whānau might expect to see an increase in resources available to them and support through our child protection system?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Well again that comes down to I guess the way we drive the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan. All Ministers have agreed that children in Oranga Tamariki care are a priority population. So all Ministers are really working to make sure that all of their agencies provide for the needs of our disabled community.Jan Logie: Does the Minister have any reflections at this stage on the stories coming through the royal commission and the challenges they reflect for us as a country in terms of protecting our children?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: Yes I do have reflections. I wonder how on earth we could have let this happen over the course of five decades. I have told the story before of a gang member in his 60s who sat down with me and said at the age of 10 he was picked up from his family for four years because the State didn't believe that his parents could care for him properly and the rest of his siblings. Within two weeks of coming out of State care at the age of 14 he had joined Black Power. All his children became gang members all his grandchildren became gang members and I'm sure many of his great-grandchildren became gang members. We can't sit in here and judge him and his family for all becoming gang members when the institution that actually created the situation in the first place was the State."