McClay to chair conference on child abuse

11:30 AM

The National Party is convening a non-partisan conference on the mandatory reporting of child abuse.

The conference will be chaired by Children's Commissioner Roger McClay who himself voted against mandatory reporting when he was a National cabinet minister in 1994.

However, Mr McClay says with up to 12 children dying each year at the hands of adults something has to be done.

Some children may be saved if people felt more compelled to tell somebody if they have witnessed child abuse, he says.

Mandatory reporting may be the only way to go, says Mr McClay, as the current legal situation surrounding child abuse does not make sense.

He says while someone involved in a car accident involving injury has to report it, someone who witnesses child abuse in a car is under no legal obligation to report it.

Under the current law, people voluntarily reporting child abuse are guaranteed anonymity.

Mr McClay says he has had numerous calls offering assistance, including one from Lucy Lawless who plays Xena, Warrior Princess in the television series.

- IRN