8. LESLEY SOPER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
How will the new sustainable funding model for community groups help to support New Zealand families?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
The Government is investing an additional $446 million in community services over the next 4 years. The additional funding and the new model will support early intervention, working together, and a focus on outcomes for families. As Paul Baigent of Plunket said: “This investment will make it easier for agencies to join forces to deliver better support and services to families and children.” Our Government is working in partnership with community organisations to deliver real results for children, young people, families, and our communities.
I have seen a report from the Leader of the Opposition, John Key, in which he dismisses working in partnership with the community sector because it “creates expectations that, quite frankly, government is often unwilling and usually unable to fulfil”, and says that “the Government is really just a purchaser of services, and the need to sustain a longer-term relationship is not an explicit part of its actions.” I can tell the House that, in contradiction to the National Party, our Labour-led Government is willing to sustain a long-term relationship with the community sector.
Paula BennettDoes the Minister agree that community groups should be funded the full cost of delivery, and that compliance costs and bureaucracy should be reduced, as John Key announced in May last year; or does she side with Michael Cullen, who stated in reply: “in the end, only the active and redemptive power of the state can address at all adequately issues …”; or does she agree with Steve Maharey, who labelled these very initiatives “Tory charity”?
There are a number of points I want to make to the member. First of all, the comments of both Dr Michael Cullen and Steve Maharey were made in relation to an entirely different speech—that delivered at Burnside at the beginning of the year—so they related to an entirely different model, which was indeed Tory charity, and I completely agree with both of them. On the second point, the member’s quote of what her leader promised may have been what he said to caucus but it is not what he actually said to Plunket in the May speech to which I referred. John Key actually said, and I quote from his website: “when a National Government wants to run a particular programme, and there is a competitive tendering process, we will encourage community groups to put in bids which reflect the full cost of delivery,”. That is very different from making a commitment to fully funding essential services.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. After you asked that member over there during question No. 7 to apologise he is now writing to me using the same phrase, and I do not think he should. He should apologise again to the House.
Madam SPEAKERThat conduct does not create order in the House. I ask members to refrain from sending each other notes that may be considered to be offensive. If they wish to do that, I ask them to do it outside this Chamber. I know that will take away the fun for some of you, but it will create more order in the House.
Judy TurnerTo what extent will the new funding model allow community groups to pursue outcomes other than those specified in their contracts?
The member’s question has demonstrated that she absolutely understands the importance of the new model, which will have contracted services based on outcomes for children and families rather than outputs. That is a key lever for innovation.
The announcement will benefit hundreds of community groups across New Zealand, providing essential services to children, families, and young people such as parenting support and advice, mentoring for young people, programmes to address youth offending, family violence prevention and crisis support, budgeting advice, victim support, refugee and migrant support, early intervention support, youth suicide prevention, and family and crisis counselling. These are examples rather than a complete list. This is why the community sector has called this policy an “inspired and visionary investment in the health and well-being of our community.”
I seek leave of the House to table the document on turbo-charging community groups that the National Party under John Key brought out last year.