Media Statement
For immediate release
Friday, 01 April 2005

Turner: Clear way for dads to prove paternity

There need to be “clear legal pathways” for men to establish if they are the fathers of children they are raising or being held responsible for, United Future deputy leader Judy Turner said today.

“Notwithstanding sometimes very difficult personal and difficult situations which are recognised, there is a basic right to be able to prove or disprove paternity,” she said.

“We need to establish the legal and resource the scientific frameworks for that to happen in New Zealand,” Mrs Turner said, after yesterday’s second reading of the Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill, which seeks to encourage more single mothers to establish paternity and apply for child support.

“The issue of paternity and its rights and responsibilities have not been given enough attention,” she said.

“In this day and age of non-invasive DNA testing, it seems outrageous that we have men who can afford to, flying to Australia to confirm paternity through tests not accessible here, and others who would like to know if they are a child’s father, are left uncertain because the power-base for this decision rests with the mother.

“We are all too aware of the fathers who fail to live up to their responsibilities, so we should never stand in the way of those who look to do so,” she said.

Ends.

© Scoop Media