October 11, 2012
White paper attack on poor: Greens
The Green Party says National has used its white paper on children to further stigmatise the poor.
The reform programme released yesterday by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett includes training doctors and teachers to recognise signs a child is being abused, banning adults considered a threat from living or associating with children, and creating a national database of at-risk children.
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says database will be used to target Maori, beneficiaries and the poor.
"What we wanted was a more universal system so that all children and their well-being are being tracked. So all the professional’s involved in the child’s life would know what’s going on with that child and could identify risks as it arose. But if they are going to do it on a targeting basis, they’re going to target Maori in particular I think. Maori women in particular," she says
Metiria Turei says all children are at risk of abuse, not just Maori or poor children.