7. Question No. 7—ChildrenLAURA TRASK (ACT) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 7—Children7. LAURA TRASK (ACT) to the Minister for Children: What are her priorities for the Children's portfolio?Hon KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children): My goal is to ensure that Oranga Tamariki is truly a child-centric care and protection agency where the safety and wellbeing and the best interests of children are at the forefront of social work practice and decision making. One way I intend to do this is by repealing section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. This section places duties on the chief executive that are at odds with the agency's primary purpose which is to support the wellbeing of our most vulnerable at-risk children. Where Oranga Tamariki has entered into strategic partnerships under section 7AA I have directed them to continue with these where they are delivering positive results.Laura Trask: What other priorities does the Minister have?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I want to see real change in how caregivers are treated and supported. In Opposition I heard many stories about how caregivers couldn't make everyday decisions about the children in their care like sending them to a school camp or even enrolling them in school or with a GP. In one case a caregiver had paid for counselling that was desperately needed for a child—they paid for it themselves so they didn't have to wait months and months—only to be told that this would have to stop as it had not been approved by Oranga Tamariki. I am also focused on cracking down on serious youth offending and on deterring young people from a life of crime and equipping them with the tools they need to turn their lives around.Laura Trask: What feedback has the Minister received from the sector about these priorities?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I have been travelling all around the country visiting Oranga Tamariki site offices and residences and meeting with strategic partners including Auckland Lower Hutt Hawke's Bay Christchurch Whangārei Kaitāia and Palmerston North. The feedback I have received about my vision and priorities for Oranga Tamariki has been overwhelmingly positive. When people have heard about this Government's plans beyond what they may get from the media or from some members on the other side of the House people appreciate and understand that Oranga Tamariki needs to get back to its core purpose of keeping young people safe and making sure they are cared and loved for. Iwi and Māori strategic partners have also responded positively when I have met with them and talked about continuing to work in partnership with Oranga Tamariki. This matches with my vision to devolve decision making and accountability back to the communities who are best placed to know what their young people need to live a safe fulfilling life.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Given the views of the Minister that young people—Rt Hon Winston Peters: What's the phone for? Hon Dr Duncan Webb: —need to be cared and loved for"—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can't write your own questions? Hon Dr Duncan Webb: —and the six recommendations—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can't think of your own questions? Hon Dr Duncan Webb: —of the Auditor-General in respect of Oranga Tamariki in respect of mental health—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Good God! Look at this. SPEAKER: Well I'll tell you what we're going to stop sorry—quite apart from the chipping—and start with a question word.Hon Dr Duncan Webb: How—[Interruption]SPEAKER: That's enough—that's enough. Hon Dr Duncan Webb: How do the Minister's priorities meet the needs of young people for a caring and loving environment given the six recommendations of the Auditor-General in respect of Oranga Tamariki and the lack of evidence that boot camps have any assistance in that regard whatsoever?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I will never apologise for adding more tools and skills to our young people so that they can cope when they come out of these facilities and have a better chance at life.Laura Trask: What feedback has the Minister received from children about her priorities?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Just last week I visited a youth justice residence. I had received feedback about a young person there who had heard about our plans to establish military academies. He was very excited about this and said he would be very excited to take part in something like this. This is just one example of the positive feedback I've received not just from social workers and iwi and Māori partners but also from children and young people. They are the ultimate reason I am here in this privileged position: to be able to make their lives better so they can not just survive but thrive."