Boscawen John: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Boscawen John: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:656;Page:5818] 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
: 
 I thank Mr Chairperson for giving me the opportunity to speak. He was quite correct when I rose to speak a short time ago; I thought I was speaking on Vote Social Development and was quite surprised that it was Vote Employment. 
The Hon Tariana Turia said in the Chamber a short time ago that 12000 children were subject to abuse and neglect and that that should break our hearts. Yes it should break our hearts. She talked about families being places that are resilient and safe to grow up in. I think it is time to look at the real causes of child abuse. 
Over the weekend we had the results announced of the most recent citizens initiated referendum which asked the very simple question: “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. In this debate we are discussing the cost of Vote Social Development and I ask myself how much money has been spent by Child Youth and Family investigating parents when complaints were lodged against them. I understand that out of close to 1000 investigations only 13 have followed through with a prosecution. But what is the cost of investigating parents? What is the cost of prosecuting parents? 
If we are to address the real causes of child abuse we need to act on the results of the referendum. The public of New Zealand spoke overwhelmingly over the last 3 weeks through that postal referendum: 88 percent of people do not believe that a light smack should be a criminal offence in New Zealand. The Prime Minister I believe— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member is straying from the estimates debate. This is a very narrow debate. Although there is some latitude what you are referring to is outside the scope of this debate. I invite the member to continue. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I thank you Mr Chairman. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Stop misleading the public! 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I am not misleading the public. Members need to look at The Yes Vote - NZ Referendum on Child Discipline 2009 website before talking about misleading the public. Child abuse has a real cost to New Zealand—a real real cost. There is huge opportunity— 
Moana Mackey 
: Isn’t Barnardos terrible like that the way they— 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: It is interesting that Moana Mackey talks about Barnardos. Barnardos was behind The Yes Vote website and I wonder how much money is spent by Vote Social Development in supporting Barnardos. Barnardos is sponsoring a website and I as a member of Parliament have received many many emails from people under the guise of that website. I note here that if I go to the website I can custom-make a letter to myself as a member of Parliament and no doubt other members have received such letters. 
I ask myself how much the Government is spending on Barnardos and how much the Government is spending on other agencies that are promoting this misleading information. They argue for example that the referendum was very poorly worded and has produced a meaningless result yet 88 percent of New Zealanders who voted did so to say that they do not believe that smacking for the purpose of correction should be illegal. I ask how much the Government has spent on supporting this website and supporting that misinformation. How much? How much has Child Youth and Family spent in investigating families? What is the cost of parents being concerned that they will be investigated? What is the cost of parents not being able to raise their children as they would like? There is a very real cost and a very intangible cost. Thank you. 
Vote agreed to.