National pulls out of family violence talks

The National Party has pulled out of cross-party talks on family violence initiatives, saying the discussions are achieving little.

A cross-party forum was formed in June following the violent deaths of three-month-old Mangere twins Chris and Cru Kahui.

Its aim was to come up with initiatives to tackle family violence.

But National's families spokeswoman, Judith Collins, today said she and associate families spokeswoman Anne Tolley had pulled out.

It had been National's understanding that the group was set up to contribute to initiatives and some kind of accord, but that no longer seemed to be the case.

Mrs Collins said ahead of a meeting last night the group had only met three times in three months.

There was no long-term schedule of meetings or even a list of outcomes the group was working towards.

So far the group had only received briefings from officials - information MPs could already get through the select committee process.

Government ministers now seemed to be suggesting the group was a working group and there would be no accord, she said.

"That was not our understanding when it was started."

But she said the group did not even seem to meet the definition of a working group.

"My idea of a working group is that you work together. You have agreed outcomes and you work towards them."

Mrs Collins said the only input the group was having into initiatives was giving feedback after the initiatives were developed and started.

She said she had only found out about three upcoming government initiatives - to be launched next week - through the media.

But Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope said he was disappointed National had decided it was not going to play a constructive role.

He said other parties were keen to continue.

"It's easy to sit out on the sidelines and criticise, but I'd rather have people around the table making a contribution if they've got one to make," he said on National Radio.

- NZPA