Labour sets terms of reference for mental health inquiry

The government has announced some broad terms of reference for a ministerial inquiry into mental health, with a six-member committee to report back by October this year.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today in a post-cabinet conference this nation’s suicide rate was “shameful” and services had been stretched. Labour had promised an inquiry as part of its 100-day plan.

Addiction services were added to the review based on consultation feedback, Ms Ardern said.

The committee will be chaired by former health and disability commissioner Ron Paterson along with Barbara Disley, Sir Mason Durie, Jemaima Tiatia-Seath, Josiah Tualamali’I and Dean Rangihuna. A $6 million budget has been set for the inquiry, which will employ 16 people fulltime.

The review committee will also have subpoena powers, which Health Minister David Clark said would be used sparingly but could provide protection for people, in particular mental health workers, who might want to speak out but are afraid to.

Dr Clark said the previous government had underfunded mental health and it would take time to put money back in. In the 2017 government budget National announced $224 million in mental health funding over four years, and carved out $124 million to be spent on “innovative” approaches.

“There are some of who are of the view a whole lot more funding is needed but there is also a need in areas where the money is not spent as well as it should be.

“So we will take recommendations from the inquiry seriously and look at what the response needs to be,” Dr Clark added. He added he expected a Mental Health Commission to be re-established out of the inquiry.

Boat people, pay equity
Responding to reports about New Zealand becoming a key destination for boat people, Ms Ardern said there was often “chatter” that “ebbed and flowed” regarding refugees to New Zealand, and that she was advised of no unusual activity.

However, she had a message for people smugglers that “just as with Australia we are looking to put an end to people taking advantage of vulnerable people’s lives.”

Earlier today the government said it would reconvene a pay equity working group to pass legislation in the middle of this year.

Workplace Relations Minister and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter said the Traci Houpapa-led working group would make recommendations to ministers by the end of February. The government then expects to introduce pay equity legislation by mid-2018.

The previous government introduced a pay equity bill following legal action taken by the E Tu union on behalf of aged care worker Kristine Bartlett. The legislation was criticised as making any future pay equity deals harder to achieve. Among other things, it stipulated anyone attempting a pay equity claim would first have to look at their own profession and industry before making comparisons across industries. That bill was dumped by the new government in November.