David Clark is the Labour candidate for Dunedin North
National is about to axe front line staff at Child, Youth and Family. Up to 30 front line jobs are to be cut from Child, Youth and Family services nationwide.
Dunedin is losing four of those positions, two frontline social workers and two front line supervisors. Cuts are also being made to Child, Youth and Family in Invercargill and on the West Coast.
Child, Youth and Family do remarkable work on behalf of the whole community to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to give families the support they need to care for their children. They provide safe, loving homes for children who need that care and they work with young people to turn their lives around.
The timing of these cuts could not be worse, as the cost of living and unemployment increases. There is growing pressure on families. These cuts are an abdication of our collective responsibility to care and protect our most vulnerable citizens, to help those who cannot speak for themselves.
The Government must reverse this appalling decision.
Criminal! This ignorant,self-serving government really needs to be held to account for its arrogant and callous indifference to many of the citizens of this country, particularly, the most vulnerable.
I hope and pray (literally) that November 26 is when national meets its Waterloo, indefinitely!