Labour says 'no' to child abuse reporting law

Labour would oppose any attempts to introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, Associate Social Services Minister Ruth Dyson said last night.

National announced yesterday that it would stage a conference, chaired by Commissioner for Children Roger McClay, to explore whether mandatory reporting was workable.

National social services spokesman Bob Simcock said Mr McClay, a former National minister, would chair the October 27 conference, but as an independent facilitator.

Ms Dyson said last night that Mr McClay was "clearly" part of the initiative," despite his assurances that he was politically neutral.

Asked if she had concerns about his participation, she said she was "prepared to accept his assurances."

"He is very aware of the fact that if he wishes to continue to hold his position as commissioner, then he has to maintain that political neutrality. I feel confident that we won't have to revisit that in future."

Ms Dyson said neither she nor Labour would support mandatory reporting.

Overseas experience was that mandatory reporting brought a big increase in the number of cases notified to the authorities, but most of the allegations turned out to be unsubstantiated.

"We don't want to have our officials spending time investigating abuse allegations that aren't true."

Much better ways existed of getting every potential abuse situation looked at, she said.

"It's about ensuring that we have the buy in, the support and the resources for health professionals and Government departments and agencies to act and deliver on reported abuse.

"That's where the gaps in our systems lie."

Mandatory reporting also discouraged people from seeking help for abused children because health professionals were required by law to report their suspicions, she said.

"If there's anything that makes me feel more sick, it's the idea of a child being beaten and not getting any treatment."

Ms Dyson said she was keen to see child abuse stopped and was pleased National was continuing the debate, although mandatory reporting had already failed once to gain the support of Parliament.

Mr Simcock said advocates had argued that mandatory reporting had worked well overseas.

"I don't know if mandatory reporting is the answer. Any glimmer of hope must be weighed up seriously when the alternative is the unbearable horror of seeing another child's coffin lowered into the ground."

Any group was welcome to attend the conference at Parliament, he said.

Meanwhile, publicity about the lack of Child, Youth and Family Service support for three traumatised children has spurred the department to contact their guardian.

Vanessa Matiu, a Kaitaia resident, said the department got in touch yesterday after a Herald story highlighted its failure to provide counselling for John, Julie-Ann and Kyden Matiu, whose 3-year-old brother, Tangaroa, was beaten to death in January.

Ms Matiu complained that while Tangaroa's siblings had clearly suffered abuse, Child, Youth and Family had repeatedly failed to provide promised counselling.

Yesterday she received a call from a department officer to arrange a meeting today to discuss the children's needs.

"It's funny how they start jumping around when there's a bit of publicity," she said.

"I'm just glad we're finally going to see them - I got so tired of chasing them."

Tangaroa's de facto stepfather, Genesis James Mahanga, has been found guilty of murder, while the boy's mother, Hoana Matiu, has been convicted of manslaughter and causing unnecessary suffering.

- NZPA and STAFF REPORTER