Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Monkeys have more rights than fathers

Reports today that Wellington Zoo has solved the mystery of who fathered their baby chimpanzee through a DNA paternity test perfectly highlight the ludicrousness of family law in New Zealand, according to UnitedFuture deputy leader, Judy Turner.

"It's an insult that we extend monkeys the right to determine parentage in this country, but refuse that basic right to fathers and children. It is a disgrace that men have no right at all to get a simple DNA test to confirm whether they are the father or not," says Mrs Turner.

"Parliament gets accused of mimicking a zoo on occasions, but perhaps our politicians need to be taking more notice of the practices of zoo keepers and realise that allowing DNA tests is simply common sense and fair."

Mrs Turner says that there are no reasonable arguments left against allowing paternity testing to be ordered by the Family Court.

Since DNA paternity testing figures began to be collected in Britain in 1998, 4,854 paternity claims have turned out to be false after testing, according to the Guardian.

"The numbers are simply staggering. In one in five cases of disputed parentage the wrong father has been fingered, but in New Zealand they have no right to clear their name unless they happen to be a chimpanzee.

"All this could be fixed if the Government introduced DNA testing in cases of disputed parentage. It is easy, it is accurate and it simply removes the cloak of uncertainty that surrounds so many father-child relationships."

Mrs Turner's has a member's bill to allow for DNA paternity testing through the Family Court that is awaiting a first reading.

ENDS