Maharey's No-show at Conference Displays Arrogance

Friday 27th Oct 2000 Dr Muriel Newman Media Release -- Social Welfare

Social Services Minister Steve Maharey’s failure to attend today’s ‘Stop the Hurt’ conference debating mandatory reporting of child abuse is appalling and displays great arrogance, ACT’s Social Welfare spokesman Muriel Newman said.

“The Minister has tried to label this conference a political forum. In reality it is simply a gathering of more than 100 concerned people discussing an issue of huge social significance to the country – and one that this government is not doing enough about.

“The Government claims it doesn’t have the money to spend on fighting child abuse but is able to front up with $146 million towards the arts in an effort to buy votes. All this while the children, our country’s future, go on suffering.

“It is not right to say the Government has no choice. It has every choice about what it spends money on.

“Mr Maharey should get his head out of the sand and hear the concerns of those New Zealanders who are working at the coal-face,” Dr Newman said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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