By STEPHEN COOK
The Government is refusing to be drawn into claims that the woman accused of assaulting her critically ill 6-week-old baby also once physically abused a stepson in her care.
Throughout the controversy, Child, Youth and Family Minister Ruth Dyson has maintained that the Tauranga woman did not have a
history of physical or sexual abuse toward her children.
The woman's two older children were removed from her care and placed in a foster family simply because of their "detrimental living environment".
But in Parliament yesterday, National challenged Ms Dyson's interpretation of the term physical abuse, saying it had evidence that the mother had beaten her stepson, leaving him with a black eye.
Social services spokeswoman Katherine Rich also said CYF had agreed that the 6-week-old boy would join his siblings in foster care, but the decision was overruled by a senior staff member.
Eight days after that decision, the baby was admitted to Tauranga Hospital and then transferred to Starship with serious head injuries.
The boy, who is in a vegetative state, was yesterday returned to Tauranga Hospital.
His mother, who has name suppression, has been charged with assault.
During question time, Ms Rich asked whether CYF was aware of a psychiatric report describing the mother as "high-risk".
Rick Barker, speaking for Cabinet colleague Ms Dyson, said the minister stood by her comment that the woman did not have a history of physical or sexual abuse toward her own children.
But he refused to respond to all of Ms Rich's questions, saying Tauranga police had asked him not to say anything that could prejudice a trial.
Any child abuse was unacceptable, Mr Barker said.
"I have been advised that in this case this was an outcome that could not have been professionally predicted."
