The Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament included a claim that his Government has placed a special emphasis on the rights of victims. What he failed to state was that this emphasis has been negative and detrimental to the rights of victims.
National has refused to enact the Domestic Violence Bill, which was introduced by Labour during the last term of Government. This bill was the culmination of extensive consultation with organisations and key stakeholders who support victims of domestic violence. Instead, whilst Labour’s comprehensive bill languishes on the Governments Order paper, National has passed their own watered down version. The National Government bill does not give Domestic Violence victims the protection and support they need and deserve.
In the last year the National Government added insult to injury by slashing counselling and support to victims/ survivors of sexual assault. Previously they were able to access counselling support via ACC on the recommendation of their counsellors or therapists. The National Government imposed more stringent measures which included the requirement that victims/ survivors be subject to multiple interviews with different health professionals. Salient to this, the eligibility criteria for funding support was narrowed, depriving the vast majority of those who would have been formerly approved.
This unfortunate experiment continued despite calls from; Counsellors, Psychotherapists, social workers, women’s organisations, victim’s rights spokespeople and victims and survivors themselves. We in Labour were proud to stand alongside these groups to challenge the Government. After a year of hell for many victims/ survivors and their families a damming independent report was released, which forced John Key’s Government to admit that it had let victims/ survivors down. The Government subsequently backed down on the more ruthless aspects of their failed policy, however the cost was immeasurable.
The Government claims to have placed a special emphasis on the rights of victims – this is undeniably the case however this negative assault on victim’s rights was not what victims were expecting and is hardly worth John Key boasting about.
And how much more damage can John Key and co do in the run up to the next election? I hear if they start to sign some of ‘free trade agreements’ that we will be worse off and have NO comeback, especially with the yanks, who after nearly killing the economy of the world will still demand that we do it their way, and if we don’t they can sue us???? So if Key an co look like they are losing, they could sabotage the economy for decades, and I would not put it past key to be petulant and petty about getting the BOOT. And what comeback would we have ??? None and Key will be sitting pretty in Hawaii… A Scary thought.
I think they were correct to remove sexual abuse victims from the umbrella of ACC. I do think that it should have been picked up elsewhere, but sexual abuse is quite clearly not an accident. Keep ACC to it’s core purpose – accident compensation.
fizzleplug how is it any less an “accident” than being punched in the face (which is also not an accident for ACC purposes and nor is someone attempting to murder you).
Tracey, because both of the actions you describe, along with sexual abuse, are actions carried out by another, with intent. There is a legal entity (i.e. the offender) who holds responsibility for the event occuring.
NRT had a good series on National’s Domestic violence bill and it’s problems with BORA The domestic violence bill and the BORA. Exclusive: Law Commission thinks domestic violence bill goes too far. I don’t know whether or not changes were made to police safety orders, but my question would be did Labour oppose this abrogation of people’s rights?