A wide, toothy grin. Bright, sparkling eyes. Our babies’ happy, trusting faces beam up at us from the newsprint. New Zealand’s babies, tiny and vulnerable..
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Once a petition has closed for signatures it has to be presented by an MP to the rest of their colleagues in the House of Representatives.
It’s then referred to a select committee: a smaller group of MPs from different parties who meet to work on specific subjects like health, finance or the environment.
Those committees can ask the petitioner to appear before them in person, over the phone or video conference to give more information about their request.
Remove the right to silence
Scott Guthrie from Transforming Justice Foundation speaks to the Justice Committee about his petition
Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Scott Guthrie has presented his petition advocating removing the right to silence for witnesses in child violence cases to the Justice Select Committee at Parliament.
A justice advocate’s bid to take away the right for witnesses to child deaths or violence against children to remain silent is being considered by a parliamentary committee. The move is proposed to combat New Zealand s child abuse record, one of the worst among OECD countries and a problem that spans generations. Scott Guthrie, an independent advocate from Manawatū, on Thursday spoke to the Justice Select Committee at Parliament about his suggested law change. A petition on the parliamentary website for the change attracted more than 4500 signatures.