Handling of sex claims slammed
National MP Judith Collins has hit out at the Labour Party for not telling the victims’ parents of the alleged assaults at the Young Labour summer camp.
It is alleged a 20-year-old man sexually assaulted four teenagers, all aged 16, including putting his hands down the pants of at least three of them, at the camp in Waihi, last month. There was alcohol at the camp, despite some of the attendees being underage.
Labour made the decision not to tell police or the victims’ families about the alleged incidents, based on its internal processes. It later sought advice from professional sexual abuse support organisations, which endorsed Labour’s decision not to report the incidents to police or parents.
The ‘‘victim-led approach’’ champions supporting the victims in their decision on whether or not to tell police or family. However, given the victims’ ages and the nature of the alleged assault, many have criticised Labour for not telling parents and police.
Yesterday, Collins told the AM Show if she were a parent she would expect to be told what had happened.
‘‘I’d actually rip their throats out for doing that if it was my kid,’’ she said in reference to Labour not telling the parents. She said the ‘‘culture of secrecy’’ bred abusive and coercive behaviour.
Labour minister Phil Twyford, who faces off against Collins in a regular slot on the AM Show, agreed the assault allegations relating to the summer camp, as well as at least one other allegation of historical sexual abuse at a Labour event, were disappointing. Twyford said the party was not happy about what had happened, nor how things were handled, which was why a full review of the party’s policies and processes was under way, as well as an independent investigation into sexual assault allegations and the party’s response.
Police are also investigating the summer camp allegations after one of the victims reported the incidents to them earlier this week.