Child abuse information given to cabinet, and other communications

Jason Brown made this Official Information request to Minister of Justice

The request was partially successful.

From: Jason Brown

Dear Minister of Justice,

Please find below questions regarding the continued refusal of your government to hold a full inquiry into child abuse in this country.

1. Why is government attempting to limit debate around the need for a full commission of inquiry into allegedly "historic" cases between 1950 to 1980?

2. What evidence can government point to that child abuse is only a "historic" concern, and does not remain a contemporary issue?

3. Why is child abuse after 1980 not a concern to your government?

4. What discussions, briefings, submissions or other communications have you, former Justice minister Judith Collins, and her/your office and ministry provided to cabinet?

5. Given evidence of widespread child abuse uncovered by a full and official inquiry by our closest neighbour, Australia, and government's long-standing promise to "catch up with Australia" why is government not responding to significant public concerns here with a similar inquiry?

6. Former Justice minister Judith Collins is on record as refusing to hold an official inquiry into conflict of interest allegations involving a supreme court judge, on the grounds that it would cause "incalculable damage to confidence in the judiciary." Your government has also refused to respond positively to information it holds on the lead-up to foreign trust legislation, despite allegations of high-level corruption. Now we have a similar refusal to hold a full and proper commission of inquiry into allegations of systemic child abuse, including at high levels. What briefings or other communications, verbal or written, has your office had on high-level corruption?

See: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/just...

7. What briefings or other communications, verbal or written, has your office or ministry had into the resignation of a New Zealand judge from the UK child abuse inquiry?

Yours faithfully,

Jason Brown

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From: Hon Amy Adams



Thank you for taking the time to write to Hon Amy Adams.

 

The office is closed for the Christmas break, all correspondence will be
considered as soon as possible in the new year.

 

Wishing you a happy holiday season.

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From: Robyn Tiller

Dear Mr Brown

On behalf of Hon Amy Adams I acknowledge receipt of your OIA request. As some of the matters fall into the portfolio responsibilities of Hon Anne Tolley Minister of Social Development I have transferred the following questions to her for her consideration:

1. Why is government attempting to limit debate around the need for a full commission of inquiry into allegedly "historic" cases between 1950 to 1980?

2. What evidence can government point to that child abuse is only a "historic" concern, and does not remain a contemporary issue?

3. Why is child abuse after 1980 not a concern to your government?

4. What discussions, briefings, submissions or other communications have you, former Justice minister Judith Collins, and her/your office and ministry provided to cabinet?

5. Given evidence of widespread child abuse uncovered by a full and official inquiry by our closest neighbour, Australia, and government's long-standing promise to "catch up with Australia" why is government not responding to significant public concerns here with a similar inquiry?

Minister Adams will consider the final 2 questions under the provisions of the
OIA Act, they are:

6. Former Justice minister Judith Collins is on record as refusing to hold an official inquiry into conflict of interest allegations involving a supreme court judge, on the grounds that it would cause "incalculable damage to confidence in the judiciary." Your government has also refused to respond positively to information it holds on the lead-up to foreign trust legislation, despite allegations of high-level corruption. Now we have a similar refusal to hold a full and proper commission of inquiry into allegations of systemic child abuse, including at high levels. What briefings or other communications, verbal or written, has your office had on high-level corruption?

See: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/just...

7. What briefings or other communications, verbal or written, has your office or ministry had into the resignation of a New Zealand judge from the UK child abuse inquiry?

Robyn Tiller
Private Secretary | Office of the Hon Amy Adams
Minister of Justice | Minister for Courts | Minister for Social Housing | Minister Responsible for Social Investment | Minister Responsible for HNZC | Associate Minister of Finance | MP for Selwyn
6.6 Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington | [email address] | DDI: 04 817 9910 |

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From: Ruby Bannister


Attachment Jason Brown 09.02.17.pdf
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Dear Mr Brown

 

Please find attached a response to your OIA request from the Hon Anne
Tolley.

 

Kind regards

 

Ruby Bannister

 

Ruby Bannister | Ministerial Secretary | Office of the Hon Anne Tolley

Minister for Social Development | Minister for Children | Minister of
Local Government | MP for East Coast

Parliament Buildings | Wellington | DDI: +64 4 817 9333

 

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From: Robyn Tiller


Attachment 14022017171227 0001.pdf
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Robyn Tiller
Private Secretary | Office of the Hon Amy Adams
Minister of Justice | Minister for Courts | Minister for Social Housing | Minister Responsible for Social Investment | Minister Responsible for HNZC | Associate Minister of Finance | MP for Selwyn
6.6 Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington | [email address] | DDI: 04 817 9910 |

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