Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question No. 3 to Minister 
Turner Judy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question No. 3 to Minister 
[Volume:617;Page:13320] 
12.  
JUDY TURNER (United Future) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: Does she agree that: “Child Youth and Family plays a pivotal role in our system but there’s no denying there have been deficiencies in all its statutory obligations” as stated recently by Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
 on behalf of the 
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: I agree with Judge Becroft that the Department of Child Youth and Family Services plays a pivotal role and that there have been deficiencies in its carrying out of its statutory obligations on occasion. That is why the Government has been investing in rebuilding the department for the last 4 years and is committed to implementing the comprehensive recommendations of the baseline review undertaken last year. 
Judy Turner 
: Does the Minister agree that the Department of Child Youth and Family Services failed to meet its obligation to protect the 2-month-old Whangarei infant abused by her dad whilst already in traction from previous injuries and does he think it is acceptable to be considering only now the need for “much stronger protocols so that there is no buck passing” between the Department of Child Youth and Family Services and the health system when the department agreed to ensure those good communication systems 4 years ago after the James Whakaruru report; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: My understanding is that in this particular case the child was in the care of the district health board and that guidelines need to be in place. The Department of Child Youth and Family Services has made it very clear that it will work closely with the hospital in the care of those children. 
Dave Hereora 
: What significant developments have there been in the Department of Child Youth and Family Services over the last 4 years? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Between 1999 and 2003 the Government increased the baseline funding of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services by more than 50 percent strengthened the social work profession by introducing formal registration and improved relationships with the community sector. As part of the implementation of the baseline review an additional $120 million is being invested in the department over the next 3 years. Ninety-three additional social workers have been employed and a further 56 are to be employed this year. The department’s systems and regional management are being strengthened and a new demand-management system is beginning to have a positive effect on the number of unallocated cases. Also a new chief executive Paula Tyler has been appointed. She is a very good appointee and we are looking forward to seeing her take up that position in August this year. 
Katherine Rich 
: What is the Minister’s view on District Court judge Ray Kean’s comments that mothers who let their violent partners bash their children should face jail if they stand by and fail to report attacks? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: People who stand by while their children are attacked and bashed are of course committing a crime and deserve what they get. 
Judy Turner 
: Can the Minister confirm that the new Canadian appointee as chief executive officer Paula Tyler has indicated that she intends to implement a two-stream system as advocated by United Future to ensure that community agencies are utilised to assist the department in meeting its statutory obligation in terms of preventive work; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I have not spoken to Ms Tyler but I am sure she has studied closely the various policies of parties within this House and I am sure she has paid particular attention to the United Future proposals which are always constructive in their nature. She will be looking forward to working closely with members I am sure when she gets here. 
Judy Turner 
: Can the Minister confirm that the failure to consult the Office of the Commissioner for Children and other groups about the pilot family safety teams indicates that this is just a recent development; if so can she explain why it takes reports from Mick Brown the Whakaruru report the baseline review the report on the deaths of the Aplin girls and United Future’s restructuring proposal before this Government begins to think about effectively addressing its statutory obligations to ensure inter-agency collaboration? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Inter-agency collaboration of course is at the heart of what this Government is trying to do. We have been implementing that right across government over the last little while in what is called a “joined-up approach” and we have certainly enjoyed the endorsement of that approach by United Future. Once again that is a very constructive idea from that party.