Think of the children
There are plenty of reminders in the papers this morning that this social democratic government isn’t doing enough to ensure all Kiwi kids grow up with everything they need to have a good start to life.
The Herald reports how Working For Families will get New Zealand’s family support on par with Canada and the United States but leave it lagging far behind Britain and Australia. The parties of the past are constantly banging on about us not being high enough on the OECD table when it comes to economic indicators. How about this one?
The Press reports on a Human Rights Commission action plan which warns that child abuse, entrenched economic and social inequalities, and poverty threaten our international human rights record. Says Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro:
New Zealand’s high rates of child abuse and neglect are evidence of the need for urgent and comprehensive action by families, communities and government.
The Press also reports a speech by Dame Silvia Cartwright about child abuse, in which she said:
When I travel overseas, I find we are admired for so many things. However, when the conversation turns to the level of violence we have, leaders are at a loss to understand why such a forward-thinking and visionary country as New Zealand can have such high family-abuse statistics.
So, what should we be doing? Well, I’m starting to sound like a stuck record, but how about we start by repealing Section 59 and introducing a Universal Children’s Benefit?
