The govt says sorry – and then a slew of legislative changes is introduced to Parliament to better protect people in state care
The Beehive has been abuzz with apologies and announcements related to the 200,000-plus people who are estimated to have been abused in state and faith-based care institutions over decades.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered a speech in which he apologised to all New Zealanders who were abused and – along with Erica Stanford – he issued a press statement which reiterated the apology.
Stanford and some ministerial colleagues, for good measure, advised us that the Government was introducing several law changes to better protect people in state care, in response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
Following the National Apology this morning, the Responding to Abuse in Care Legislation Amendment Bill was given its first reading.
It will make changes to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, Children’s Act 2014, Crimes Act 1961, and Public Records Act 2005.
The Bill will:
Following the National Apology this morning, the Responding to Abuse in Care Legislation Amendment Bill was given its first reading.
It will make changes to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, Children’s Act 2014, Crimes Act 1961, and Public Records Act 2005.
The Bill will:
- Remove strip searches of children in care and provide new search powers for people visiting youth justice facilities.
- Strengthen restrictions for people working with young children.
- Enforce better record keeping by Government agencies.
- Amend the Crimes Act to include disability in the definition of vulnerable adult.
“We heard from the Royal Commission of Inquiry how strip searches were used in dehumanising and traumatising ways. Removing them will not just minimise, but will eliminate, one of the most restrictive and inappropriate powers in the care system.
“For the children and young people cared for in our secure residences, safety is fundamental in creating a stable environment. At the moment there are no statutory powers to search visitors, staff or contractors entering Youth Justice residences for harmful items. We will change that and introduce searches for harmful items through scanning.“
The Bill will close a loophole that currently allows some people with overseas convictions to work with children.
“Children deserve to learn in safe environments so they can flourish. That starts with ensuring the teacher in front them is sufficiently vetted to do so,” Ms Stanford says.
The Crimes Act will be amended to include disability in the definition of vulnerable adult.
“This will make it explicit that those caring for disabled adults owe them a statutory duty of care,” Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
The Record Acts will be strengthened to give the Chief Archivist more powers including the ability to issue performance notices and require agencies to come up with time-bound action plans in response to problems with record-keeping.
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Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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