Youth events valuable but must be safe

Political parties do a valuable service to their country by bringing young people into politics. New Zealand’s two main parties have been providing this service particularly well in recent years, as evidenced by the fact both now have new young leaders who have been in Parliament for a decade.

This does not excuse the misbehaviour at Labour Party “summer school” camps that has come to light. Like any organisation that arranges activities for young people, a political party must ensure those attending be kept safe. But it would be a pity if these events become too politically risky to continue.

The questions being asked of Labour this week are important. Three 16-year-olds were indecently assaulted by a drunken 20-year-old. Why was alcohol available at a camp attended by 16-yearolds? What was done to stop the offender’s behaviour and to help those he assaulted? Should their parents have been told? Should the offences have been reported to the police immediately?

The party did not even tell the Prime Minister who was caught unawares at a press conference. Even when one of her ministers was told by one of the victims of the assaults, word was not passed to Jacinda Ardern, only to the party’s general secretary, Andrew Kirton. It is unusual that a Prime Minister would not be quickly told of an occurrence that could become public knowledge at any time.

It raises the question, what would this Prime Minister have done had she known of it weeks ago? Would she have insisted on a public disclosure lest she later be accused of attempting to cover it up?

She also thinks their parents ought to have been informed, as does the National Party. But professionals disagree. Social workers say they are guided by the wishes of victims of this age when it comes to informing their parents.

While that might not be a popular policy it seems a reasonable one. Not all parents would handle the information well and even if they did, young people have a right to keep personal experiences private even from their parents. Professionals can do no more than encourage them to confide in those who care for them.

Kirton said the offender at the Saturday night party at Labour’s summer school was remorseful next morning and was asked to leave the camp. He was not a party member and had been there with friends. Kirton has not explained how the young man got so drunk, or how alcohol was controlled at the event attended by people under age. But these things can happen at any organised gathering for young people, and old.

The Labour Party has called in a lawyer to review the incident at that camp and any complaints that may be made about conduct at previous events. In the meantime the party has suspended Young Labour events and decided that future summer camps will not be run by its youth wing.

Political parties need to be careful but they should not be discouraged from making these efforts to engage young people in politics, which means giving them responsibility for what they do in the party’s name.