National Radio Midday Report

CYF Review – Children’s Homes – A&E Review – Israeli Government – Lundy Murders – Fiji Refugee Camp – Iraq Talks – GM Commission – Ferry Reliability – Auckland Waste

- CYF REVIEW: An independent review of Child Youth and Family’s handling of a case where a toddler was seriously abused by her grandmother, sustaining permanent brain damage, has found serious shortcomings in the department. Chief social worker Mike Doolan says staff are genuinely appalled and sorry about what happened to the toddler and are deeply sorry she was put in an unsafe situation. Commissioner for Children Roger McClay said the case is a stark reminder that family are not always suitable caregivers. Social Services Minister Steve Maharey has sought assurances that the errors it made in the case will not happen again. He also said the department should speak up when it does something well, and defended their over all standards.

- CHILDREN’S HOMES: Police are being asked to investigate two children’s homes in Auckland that were shut down by Child Youth and Family earlier this month after concerns about the treatment of at risk children by staff.

- A&E REVIEW: Junior doctor’s representatives are backing a call for a review of staffing in hospital Accident and Emergency departments.

- ISRAELI GOVERNMENT: Israel’s Labour Party has voted to join a National Unity party proposed by right wing Prime Minister Prime Minister elect Ariel Sharon.

- LUNDY MURDERS: Palmerston North police say they are following up several responses to their call for the public to come forward with sightings of murder accused Mark Lundy’s car. Mr Lundy is charged with the murder of his wife Christine and daughter Amber last August.

- FIJI REFUGEE CAMP: A camp for Indo Fijians made homeless by last year’s coup is likely to close due to lack of support.

- IRAQ TALKS: Two days of talks are underway in New York between Iraqi officials and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, aimed at ending a two-year stand-off over weapons inspections and sanctions in Iraq. Meanwhile, the US leaders who led the war in 1991 have pledged that the United States will continue to guard against any Iraqi aggression, at a 10th anniversary ceremony at the American Embassy in Kuwait.

- GM COMMISSION: The Maori Congress has called for a moratorium on genetic modification until a Waitangi Tribunal claim over rights to native plants and animals is heard, at the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.

- FERRY RELIABILITY: Tourism operators in Marlborough are blaming a decline in the reliability of Cook Strait ferry services for a decline in day visitors to the area.

- AUCKLAND WASTE: The Auckland City Council’s new waste management contract that will see wheelibins replaced by smaller bins is being applauded by environmental groups, who say it will cut levels of waste if combined with other strategies.

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