Macindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Macindoe Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 13 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6491. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
3. 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: What announcements have been made as part of the Government’s White Paper for Vulnerable Children to take stronger action against child abusers? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 The Government is introducing a range of tough new measures targeting child abusers. The new initiatives are aimed at protecting children from offenders who present a high risk of continuing to hurt and abuse children. These measures include limiting guardianship rights for abusive parents introducing child abuse prevention orders and the tracking of high-risk offenders. 
Tim Macindoe 
: Why is the Government making changes to limit guardianship rights for abusive parents? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: This decision the Government has taken has not been made lightly. As the National Party we trust families to know what is right for their children but we know that unfortunately there are some people who are doing incomprehensible damage to some. For example one of the children in the State’s care who was removed at birth and is now 5 years old is in his third foster home not because of Child Youth and Family not because of the placement but because of the continued harassment and abuse by the boy’s parents. This change will ensure that children who require a safe fresh start can get it without that sort of harassment. 
Tim Macindoe 
: What legislative changes will be made to limit guardianship rights? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Legislative changes will limit the guardianship rights of parents who present an ongoing serious risk to their children. The Family Court would be able to make a determination if it is necessary and in the child’s best interests to limit a parent’s power to disrupt the child’s life on guardianship decisions such as medical procedures school enrolment and travelling overseas. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: What initiatives are contained in her white paper to tackle child sexual abuse specifically in light of Australia—which already carries out screening—instigating a royal commission into this issue and the fact that substantiated cases in New Zealand have increased by roughly 50 percent on her watch? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: There are a range of initiatives that are going on that I think are addressing those historical abuse claims. For example we have the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service headed by Judge Henwood which is making a difference for those people. This Government has actually addressed historical abuse claims at a rate far higher than any previous administration. We shall continue to do that; we put in another $14 million in the last Budget. We are already discussing what will happen in the next Budget for that. We take it seriously. We are addressing them we are not trying to hide them and I do not think there is quite the need that we have seen in Australia. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was specifically around initiatives contained in the white paper— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Indeed the member’s question was— 
Jacinda Ardern 
: —and the Minister did not address that question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Yes if the Minister could. That is exactly what the question asked: what initiatives are contained in the Government’s white paper to deal with those issues? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I think what I pointed out was that there are a range of initiatives that are already happening so they are not specified particularly in the white paper.