Changes to child abuse laws criticised

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The Government's proposed law changes aimed at addressing child abuse will do little to get to the root of the problem and are not the answer, the New Zealand Nurses' Organisation (NZNO) says.

A number of proposals aiming to protect children and vulnerable adults from assault and neglect were introduced to Parliament yesterday as part of the Crimes Amendment Bill.

The bill would create a new offence for failing to protect a child or vulnerable adult, knowing they were at risk, which would have a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

The bill would also increase the maximum penalty for cruelty to a child from five years to 10 years' imprisonment, and the current legal duty for parents to provide the necessaries of life would be extended to include taking reasonable steps to protect a child or vulnerable adult from injury.

"The factors contributing to abuse are complex and multi-faceted," NZNO chief executive Geoff Annals said.

"Until the Government has the courage to address issues such as child poverty, the violence caused by alcohol abuse, the widening gap between rich and poor in this country, and the growing number of people who feel excluded or alienated from participating in our society, then little will change for our most vulnerable citizens."

Fast-tracked, punitive legislation in response to extreme cases was not the answer and there could be no quick-fixes.

"Solutions will only be found in a comprehensive policy approaches that address the health, education, employment and social factors contributing to abuse," he said.

Meanwhile, the National Network of Stopping Violence (Te Kupenga) also spoke out against the legislation today, saying strengthening the law was welcome but the proposed changes unfairly penalised women who stayed with abusive partners.

The proposed law failed to acknowledge that there were many reasons women stayed with someone who had been violent toward them or their children, national manager Brian Gardner said.

"Women stay in abusive relationships because they take his threats very seriously, are often fearful of the inconsistent responses of the justice system as well as Child, Youth and Family, and may not feel safe to report the abuse to the authorities."

- NZPA