Poto Williams
MP for Christchurch East
Spokesperson on Sexual and Domestic Violence

MEDIA STATEMENT

April 13 2016

Expensive talk shop or a great idea?

A new Christchurch pilot to set up a one stop shop on family violence must be supported with new money, says Labour’s Spokesperson on Sexual and Domestic violence Poto Williams.

“While the pilot sounds a promising idea, it should have the buy-in from the Christchurch community with the locals firmly in control.

“The $1 million dollars that is being talked for this project appears to come from existing funding. It must come from new Government money or it could be in danger of becoming just another expensive talk shop and drain on resources.

“My other worry is that by creating another layer with a triage process around a team of police, CYF staff and NGOs, the Government is adding another check on any rapid decision making in a crisis.

“So while I support the idea of a new model for dealing with family violence, the devil will be in the detail,” says Poto Williams.

ends

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