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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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Psychiatric
Institutions—Abuse 10. RON
MARK (NZ First) to the Attorney-General: Will she be ordering an inquiry
into claims of serious abuse at psychiatric institutions during the 1960s and
1970s; if not, why not? Hon
MARGARET WILSON (Attorney-General): Until the Crown has completed
its investigation, no decision can be made on whether to hold an inquiry. Ron Mark:
Does
the Minister not believe that the serious allegations, including physical and
sexual abuse, long periods of solitary confinement, and the use of
electroconvulsive therapy as punishment, are not in themselves enough to
warrant a full and proper inquiry by this Government as of now? Hon
MARGARET WILSON: The Government takes the allegations very seriously and
that is why they are being thoroughly investigated. However, that will take
some time because many of them go back over 30 years. Darren
Hughes:
When does the Attorney-General expect the investigations to be concluded? Hon
MARGARET WILSON: The Crown is investigating these matters as quickly as
possible, and I have in fact instructed that more staff be applied to the
investigation process. However, the difficulties are that records from over
30 years ago have to be found. Once found, they have to be assessed.
Witnesses who are alleged to have been involved in these instances also have
to be found and interviewed. There is also a variety of other processes, about
practices and about what medical treatment was appropriate at that time, that
also have to be investigated. But I do assure the House that we are taking
the allegations very seriously. Dr Lynda
Scott:
Does the Minister believe that the level of abuse in psychiatric institutions
during the 1960s and 1970s was one of the reasons deinstitutionalisation was
promoted so strongly, but that deinstitutionalisation has now gone too far,
leading to our high suicide rate, and leaving families to cope with the tragedy
of dealing with mental illness, often unsupported? Hon
MARGARET WILSON: I think that question calls for an opinion that is
outside my expertise. It does relate to the management of mental institutions
at this time, and I have no knowledge of that. However, I will say that in
1969 there was an investigation into allegations at Porirua, and they were
found not to be substantiated. Ron Mark: What was the level of
support, both financial and physical, afforded by the State to Bailey
Kurariki and the other youths who killed Michael Choy, and does she not
believe that the child victims of psychiatric care and abuse in the 1960s and
1970s are deserving of the very same degree of assistance in order to allow
them to press their cases against the Crown? Hon MARGARET
WILSON:
I have no knowledge as to whether legal aid has been sought on behalf of
these claimants, but that would certainly be a source of assistance for them. |
