10. SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Health
Is he satisfied with the Ministry of Health’s contracting and monitoring of problem-gambling service providers; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
Yes, I am satisfied with the strategic progress being made, but there is always room for improvement.
Can the Minister explain why his ministry paid the Pacific People’s Addiction Services of Hamilton $143,000 last year for counselling eight people at an average of $18,000 each?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
That provider, along with 12 other providers, is currently being reviewed. They are new providers in a difficult area of social responsibility in this Government. They have been funded to develop services to assist people with problem-gambling habits. The outcome of that review will identify whether any problems have occurred.
Can the Minister explain why his Government overpaid the Pacific People’s Addiction Services of Hamilton $143,000 last year for counselling eight people, when that organisation’s official contract requires it to see over 300 people; and does he realise that his ministry agreed to pay this money for people who may have had only a 16-minute phone conversation?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
As I said before, a number of providers have been set up to assist in the problem-gambling area. This is one of those organisations. It, along with 11 others, is currently under review in order to ensure that the money provided has been spent wisely.
Can the Minister explain why the Government paid the Waipareira Trust $180,000 for counselling only 13 people last year—an average of $14,000 for each person—when the contract required the trust to counsel 440 people for the year; and why is the Government overpaying when these contracts are not being met?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Those questions will be answered by the review. I would like to remind that member—
Madam SPEAKERPlease be seated. Members will be leaving the Chamber if this continues. We have done quite well so far. People are entitled to be heard. Would the Minister please address the question.
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I would like to remind that member that we are dealing with a very serious public health issue here. Every day New Zealanders lose $5.5 million. Currently, 39,000 people are considered to be problem gamblers, and another 17,000 in this country are considered to be at risk. The Ministry of Health has taken over responsibility for this area, and it is developing work with problem-gambler providers.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask that the Minister address the question, which asks him to explain why the Government paid the Waipareira Trust when the contract was not being met.
The Minister did address the question. But the member is entitled, if she wishes, to ask another question.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Minister did not answer the question. The contract was for some 440 treatments. The organisation provided only 14 treatments, but it was paid out for the whole lot. Then he proceeded to tell us that 17,000 people in this country have a gambling problem. Well, how can we believe that, given that only 14 people turned up, the contract was for 440 treatments, and the money was paid? The member should just answer the question.
Why is the Minister happy to pay $14,000 for a 16-minute phone conversation or a single half-hour counselling session; and if he has known how poorly all these problem-gambling providers are performing, why has he given nearly all of them extra contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars more?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I do not accept for a moment the claims made by that member. A review is currently under way. There will be a normal audit process of every one of those providers. They have been paid money to assist them to set up the organisation that they have, and if there are any problems they will be identified through the review.
Steve ChadwickI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is impossible to hear the Minister’s response at the back of the Chamber due to the constant interjections.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. While you were ruling, there was again a barrage from Simon Power. I could hear you, but I am sure people at the back of the Chamber will have trouble in doing so if he keeps that up.
Mr Power has a loud voice and he sits right beside the Speaker. So I ask the member not to intervene in future. Will the Minister please succinctly address the question.
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
That question, and a number of others, will be answered by the review that is currently under way.
Does the Minister realise how bad this scandal looks, when only yesterday a casino was fined for not dealing with a problem gambler, yet this Government is wasting thousands of dollars overpaying counselling services; and is it not time that the Auditor-General was called in to blow the whistle on this misuse of public money?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
The fact that a casino was fined yesterday identifies the major problem that some organisations throughout the country are not taking responsibility to try to minimise harm from problem gambling.