Judith Collins MP National Party Family Spokeswoman

03 November 2003

Women and children focus for Family spokesperson

National Party Family spokesperson Judith Collins is rubbishing Green Party claims that National intends to 'dismiss issues' affecting women and children.

"How ironic it is for the Green Party to make such a ridiculous claim when they're helping to support a Government that's set about dismantling the traditional family.

"The legalisation of prostitution and the description of a family as 'any group with a psychological attachment' are just a couple of changes that have taken place on the Greens' watch.

"The Labour Government has also been actively reinforcing sexist stereotypes with its recent decision to 'retain' and 'strengthen' the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

"It's difficult to recall one recent issue that the Ministry has been successful in pushing publicly and its advice is of such poor quality it is often disregarded," says Ms Collins.

"In fact, some have argued that the Equal Pay Act of 1972 was the only useful Act the Ministry of Women's Affairs has ever put its name to.

"New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote and that was before the Ministry of Women's Affairs existed.

"The time is now right to review the future of this Governmental relic from another era," says Ms Collins.

"In the same review which devoted more resources to Women's Affairs, the Labour led-Government wiped out the Youth Affairs Ministry, with barely a whimper from the Greens.

"The National Party created the families portfolio five weeks ago, and in case Rod Donald's mob hadn't noticed, women and children make up a good portion of New Zealand families.

"The National Party is determined to provide better representation for mainstream New Zealanders when it comes to women's and children's issues.

"That'll be a welcome change from the narrow ideological agenda being promoted and forced upon all of us by this Government and its supporters," says Ms Collins.

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