Dyson takes flak for CYF defence

By STEPHEN COOK

National is turning the heat on Child Youth and Family Minister Ruth Dyson over her defence of the agency's handling of an alleged child assault case.

A 6-week-old baby boy is lying brain dead in Auckland's Starship Hospital. His mother is facing one charge of assault relating to injuries the infant sustained eight days ago.

Her two other children were removed from her care by CYF a year ago after allegations of chronic neglect. They are in foster care.

Speaking under parliamentary privilege yesterday, National's Tony Ryall claimed the two children, a boy, 2, and a girl, 4, were removed from the care of the woman, 26, a year ago because one was covered in urine and faeces and the other was so emaciated it weighed less than 9kg. That child was unable to walk, stand, talk and was in a severe state of decline, he claimed.

He questioned why Ms Dyson led Parliament to believe during earlier questioning that the children were taken from the mother's care because of their "detrimental living environment" when evidence showed they were removed because of the physical state they were in.

Act's social services spokesperson Muriel Newman also asked why Ms Dyson had used the expression "detrimental living environment" as a euphemism for starvation.

Ms Dyson has defended her department's handling of the case, saying it "correctly assessed" the risks facing the child.

Ms Dyson told Parliament yesterday a report into the case had used the terminology "detrimental living environment" and she was still satisfied with the way CYF had handled the case.

"I stand by my response that the baby's mother did not have a history of physical or sexual abuse toward her own children."

She was not prepared to discuss further details about the case, saying that it could adversely affect the police inquiry.

A team of 16 officers is investigating the case. The assault charge is expected to be amended if the child dies.

The mother was this week granted continued interim name suppression and remanded on bail to July 20.