Bob Simcock

Opposition Social Services Spokesperson

28 June 2000

Maharey's CYFS claims are 'balderdash and baloney'

"People are demanding action, after hearing more and more stories about children who are abused without protection," says National's Social Services spokesman Bob Simcock.

"The current minister, Steve Maharey, has in recent days been claiming that all of the problems at Child Youth and Family Services will be fixed by increased spending from the budget. But that's balderdash, and the Minister knows it.

In fact the Minister did very poor job at gaining extra resources for CYFS. He keeps talking about $36 million extra for CYFS but fails to recognise that $28 million of that had already been committed by the previous government.

"When CYFS fails to respond to calls for help, and when it fails to follow through thoroughly it is because of too few social workers doing too much work. The recent budget only added $8 million to the CYFS budget and within that there was only enough money for 22 extra social workers.

"Mr Maharey tells us an extra 22 social workers will solve the problems in an organisation that employs 1350 social workers. That's nonsense and he knows it!

"He tells us that the money in the budget will solve the problems that will be identified when Judge Mick Brown reports on his review of CYFS. I don't know what Mick Brown will say but I know that what Maharey is saying is baloney.

"CYFS will continue to be under pressure this year, next year and the year after. Mr Maharey talks too much and does far to little when it comes to delivery on adequate child protection services," Mr Simcock says.

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