5 December 2011

Families Are Not a Token Gesture

Family First NZ says that the Families Commission should either be strengthened and fine-tuned to produce research and advocacy which reflects the actual concerns of families, or it should be totally scrapped along with the Children’s Commissioner, and a Minister of Families appointed.

‘To play around with the Families Commission as a bargaining tool for coalition deals sends the underlying message that families aren’t a high priority,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “A token one-person Commission is simply an insult to our most important state asset – families.”

“National and United Future should either be demanding that the Families Commission deliver quality research and policy advice, or they should scrap it altogether and appoint a Minister for Families – which is our preference.”

We currently have Cabinet Ministers for disabled, senior citizens, youth, Maori, veterans, women’s affairs – even the rugby world cup. It’s time we stopped paying lip service to our most important asset – strong families raising great kids,” says Mr. McCoskrie.

“It’s time the government put families at the head table rather than treating them as a bargaining chip.”

ENDS

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