- National News

26 June: MP gives 'heads-up' on pest plan

nospam@example.com (SG Staff) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:25:03 +1200

MP gives ‘heads-up’ on pest plan

Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie wants land owners across the Plains and the Coromandel Peninsula to have a say on the proposed Pest Management Plan of Action, out now for public consultation.

“The Plan of Action aims to drive a new national policy direction to further strengthen and align pest management plans as they are developed.

“We want to develop a unified approach to pest management for all land. This means all land owners in New Zealand will be bound to control pests, such as rabbits and wilding trees, so they don’t ‘spill over’ and affect their neighbours,” she says.

Crown land will be required to meet ‘good neighbour’ obligations as a responsible landowner, in regional pest management strategies.

“The cost of established pests to our economy runs close to $1.9 billion a year - $1.15 billion of lost production and $719 million in directly preventing pests from arriving in New Zealand and managing them once they are here.

“The Plan of Action looks at ways to ensure our pest management strategies limit this cost, and meet the needs of today and challenges of tomorrow,” says Mrs Goudie.

MAF has been working closely with regional councils, industry, Maori, the science community and other government departments to design the proposed improvements.

“Work still needs to be done to ensure that pest management strategies deliver the best protection possible and impose equitable costs on all landowners,” she says.

Submissions to the Pest Management proposed National Plan of Action 2010-2035 close on 19 July 2010. For more information go to www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult/pmpn-plan-of-action2010-2035.

5 July - MP welcomes cash injection for rescue choppers

nospam@example.com (SG Staff) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:20:32 +1200

MP welcomes cash injection for rescue choppers

Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie welcomes a boost in funding for air ambulance services across New Zealand.

“I am delighted that a one-off $1 million Government funding package is being distributed to help these vital services.”

The Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust and Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance will each receive $78,000.

“Incidents happen at all times of the day and night. Waikato and Auckland rescue helicopters provide exceptional services across the Coromandel Electorate.

“The Coromandel has vast areas of rugged terrain and isolation, often making it difficult for our community ambulance services to attend to patients, hence the need for the air ambulance service which is minutes away,” she says.

“The importance of this service to our region is vital and valued by us all.”

The Ministry of Health will start distributing funds from today.

Budget a pathway to economic recovery

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:32:00 +1200

Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie says New Zealand has weathered the global crisis and Budget 2010 focuses squarely on our economic recovery.

“Budget 2010 sets New Zealand on a path to turn back debt and return to surplus.

It delivers the biggest reform of our tax system for nearly 25 years.

“Across-the-board personal tax cuts and a package of tax changes will boost economic growth, make the tax rules fairer and help hard-working Kiwis get ahead.”

For too long New Zealand has relied on investment in property speculation, rising debt and unsustainable increases in government spending, Mrs Goudie says.

“This Budget takes action to encourage investment in the productive parts of the economy such as exporting. It gives the vast bulk of Kiwis extra cash in their pockets so they have more choices.

Tax reforms will leave someone on the average wage almost $15 a week better off. A family on the average household income with two children will be about $25 better off.

“We owe it to hard-working Kiwi families to provide them with financial security, opportunities, and higher incomes that allow them to get ahead in this country.

“Budget 2010 does those things and sets out a path to build on our economic recovery,” she says.

For more information contact:

Sandra Goudie – 0274 312 442

Piako Post

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:25:00 +1200

A new law aimed at further protecting victims of family violence comes into effect on July 1 2010. The Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Act strengthens the responsiveness of criminal justice agencies to victims of domestic violence.

Police will now be able to issue orders on-the-spot to ensure the immediate safety of victims by removing the alleged violent person from the home for a period of up to five days. The orders will be issued in situations where there is an insufficient basis to arrest, but where police believe there is a likelihood of domestic violence occurring and an order is necessary for the safety of the victim.

This will provide a period of safety in which victims can consider their future options, including the possibility of a court protection order.

Another important feature of the law is the amending of the Sentencing Act 2002, to enable the criminal courts to issue a protection order on behalf of victims in cases where an offender is sentenced for a domestic violence offence.

The law also:

Removes from the Domestic Violence Act the two-tiered penalty structure for breaches of protection orders, leaving only the maximum penalty of up to two years imprisonment.
Provides a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment for failing to attend a court-ordered programme.
Repeals the statutory criteria that police have to take into account when considering whether to arrest, without warrant, a person who they suspect has contravened a protection order. This means the approach taken by police will be the same as for any other offence when an arrest without warrant is being considered.
Allows police to impose any conditions considered reasonably necessary to protect any particular person residing with the victim, such as children, new partners, or elderly parents.

This law provides useful tools in expediting the response of the criminal justice sector to domestic violence. The police safety orders will provide immediate protection for victims, while making it very clear to the person who has allegedly committed the violence, that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Ngatea Teen selected to fill MPs shoes

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:13:00 +1200

Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie is delighted to announce Hauraki Plains College student Caitlin Wiseman as her Youth MP to attend Youth Parliament in July 2010.

“Caitlin ticked all the boxes.”

The applicants, aged from 16 to 18 years, had to write a five-minute speech on whether economic growth was important to New Zealand and deliver it to a panel of judges.

“The content of the speeches was varied and interesting. Having the benefit of capable judges made the selection process the best so far for a Youth MP,” she says.

The three judges concurred on the actual winner.

“People can be proud of the quality of our youth. The calibre of applicants was so high this year that choosing a second place would have been very difficult.

It’s just great to see them putting themselves forward.

“When you see our young people presenting like this, it is the good news story that frankly, I can’t get enough of.

“Congratulations to all applicants on a job well done.”

Charities Commission choked - snowball's chance of meeting deadline

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:08:00 +1300

Charities Commission choked - snowball's chance of meeting deadline

The Charities Commission is choked with applications from not-for-profit organisations to register as charities and is processing them so slowly that the June 30 deadline is an impossible dream, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

"One accountant has calculated that at the current rate of processing registrations – 41.2 a week – it will take about four decades to process applications from all 90,000 not-for-profit organisations.

"The rate of registration is appallingly slow, but compounding the problem is news that the commissioner is attempting to 'weed out' organisations that may do political lobbying, without any policy or guidelines to help him do the job.

"If that's the case, how is the Charities Commissioner determining the thresholds that have to be met by not-for-profits in terms of advocacy? By guessing?

"This situation is just getting worse. The commission started out saying applications would be processed within 30 days – they now admit it will be at least three times longer than that.

"It certainly didn't help that the $1.8 million-plus computer system they got to carry out the registrations had to be ditched because it couldn't do the job.

"Since July 2005, $10.9 million has been spent on setting up the Charities Commission. Their attempt to register organisations has become farcical.

"Taxpayers' money has been thrown away, non-profits have been put through needless stress as they fear losing their tax advantages, and the commission is buried under a mountain of registrations that it has no chance of processing.

"These organisations are owed an explanation from Labour about why there was no planning, no policies, and no forethought before the commission was established."

Answers to parliamentary questions

9086 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (19 Nov 2007): What has been the total cost to date for the Charities Commission, and what portion of that cost is for the information technology (IT) computer system?
Ruth Dyson (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) replied: I have been advised that the total expenditure for the Charities Commission, from the Commission's commencement on 1 July 2005 to 31 October 2007, has been $10.914m and the portion spent on information technology has been 21 percent.

18512 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (08 Nov 2007): How much has the Charities Commission spent establishing their computer system in 2006 and 2007 financial year?
Ruth Dyson (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) replied: I am advised that in 2006/07 the Charities Commission spent $1.854 million to establish the registration computer system and spent a further $0.203 million to establish other supporting information technology systems.

18514 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (08 Nov 2007): Has the Charities Commission replaced any part of the computer system it has purchased; if so, what is the value of the part of the computer system that has been replaced?
Ruth Dyson (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) replied: I am advised that the Charities Commission has replaced the initial registration software that had an original cost of $1.854 million.

1173 (2008). Sandra Goudie to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector (22 Feb 2008): Will the Charities Commission monitor not-for-profit entities registered with the commission in regard to their advocacy role, and if so, how?
Ruth Dyson (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) replied: I am advised the Charities Commission, under the Charities Act 2005, has these statutory monitoring functions: "to monitor charitable entities and their activities to ensure that entities that are registered as charitable entities continue to be qualified for registration as charitable entities"; and "to monitor and promote compliance with this Act, including by taking prosecutions for offences against this Act in appropriate circumstances". The Charities Commission is currently developing detailed operational policy as to how it will fulfil its monitoring functions under the Charities Act (2005).

Problem Gambling Foundation called to account

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:09:00 +1300

National’s Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie, is calling on Labour to disclose what happened to more than $400,000 paid to the Problem Gambling Foundation for staff it never hired.

“I have asked Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor at least five times where this money has gone and have been brushed off every time.

“It is unacceptable that a body charged with teaching people to be more responsible with money is not accountable for $403,500 of taxpayers’ money that appears to have vanished.

“If the foundation didn’t need the five staff they were paid to hire, the money should have been returned.

“An audit of the Problem Gambling Foundation by the Ministry discovered this overpayment more than a year ago and all Damien O’Connor has to say is ‘as the Ministry is still in talks with the Problem Gambling Foundation on this matter, I am not able to comment further until these discussions are completed.’

“The Ministry of Health paid the Problem Gambling Foundation $3.3 million in the 2005/06 year and every cent of that should be accountable.”

Parliamentary Questions

18822 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Associate Minister of Health (14 Nov 2007): Has there been payment made by the Ministry of Health to the Problem Gambling Foundation for services not provided; if so, what were those services not met, what were the costs of the services and on what was the money spent?
Hon Damien O’Connor (Associate Minister of Health) replied: I refer the Member to the response to Written Question 16123 (2007).

18836 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Associate Minister of Health (15 Nov 2007): Further to the reply to question for written answer 17862 (2007) was there a workout plan established by the Problem Gambling Foundation; if so, what was required to be done to meet the cost for the failure to provide the five contracted full time equivalents?
Hon Damien O’Connor (Associate Minister of Health) replied: Workout plans were established for all providers. The Ministry of Health initiated an independent review of FTEs contracted by the Problem Gambling Foundation following the preliminary findings of the Evaluation Associates routine audit. I am advised that the Ministry is currently working through the outcome of this review with the Problem Gambling Foundation, and I expect this to be finalised shortly. Any level of overpayment related to FTEs has yet to be confirmed, and as the Ministry is currently in talks with the Problem Gambling Foundation on this matter, I am not able to comment further until these discussions are completed.

18891 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Associate Minister of Health (15 Nov 2007): What was the dollar value of the overpayment of 5 FTE’s to the Problem Gambling Foundation in the period July 2005 to June 2006 as identified in Section 4.1 of the findings in the Ministry of Health audit dated December 2006 and has the Minister of Health recovered the overpayment?
Hon Damien O’Connor (Associate Minister of Health) replied: I refer the member to my response to written question 18836.

18892 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Associate Minister of Health (15 Nov 2007): Has the overpayment to the Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) of 5 full time equivalents for the 2005/2006 year been recovered; if not, how is this being addressed by the Ministry of Health; what if any controls have been put in place to ensure PGF complies with its contractual obligations in future?
Hon Damien O’Connor (Associate Minister of Health) replied: I refer the member to my response to written question 18836.

18893 (2007). Sandra Goudie to the Associate Minister of Health (15 Nov 2007): What steps is the Minister or the Ministry taking to recover the funding for the 5 full time equivalents the Problem Gambling Foundation did not employ; what processes have been put in place to ensure a similar situation does not happen in the future and what steps has the Minister and the Ministry taken to establish what the money was spent on?
Hon Damien O’Connor (Associate Minister of Health) replied: I refer the member to my response to written question 18836.

Firefighters need resources to take up ambulance slack

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:10:00 +1300

Volunteer fire brigades have had a 47% increase in calls to medical emergencies since 2003 and nowhere near that increase in resources, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

The United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand (UFBA) revealed figures at the Health Select Committee's inquiry into ambulance services that fire brigade responses to medical emergencies increased from 3,336 in 2003 to 4,910 in 2006.

"Volunteers will never hesitate to go to an emergency whenever they are needed, but no one should expect them to be under-resourced or under-trained to respond.

"If the Fire Service expects these firefighters to fill the gaps created by a shortage of ambulance personnel, they need the training and equipment to do the job correctly."

Jonathan Coleman says: "The select committee was told that the situation is so bad that in one area, south of Christchurch, 85% of the brigade callouts are for medical rather than fire emergencies.

"It's clear that the goodwill of brigades is being stretched to breaking point as personnel, many of them volunteers, are thrown into situations for which their training does not prepare them.

"This has a number of detrimental affects. Most seriously, lives are at risk when appropriately skilled assistance is not available.

"The extra responsibility and liability could well put people off becoming volunteers."

Mrs Goudie says: "Our volunteer and rural firefighters deserve more than to be thrown into the breach without the skills, equipment, and resources needed to do the job – even if it isn't the job they signed up to do."

Minister slammed for slashing SeniorNet funding

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:11:00 +1300

Labour has slashed SeniorNet funding by half, jeopardising the future of the organisation and ignoring the intention of the Positive Ageing Strategy, which it claims to support, says National's Senior Citizens spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

"Tertiary Education reforms mean that SeniorNet funding has fallen drastically from an expected $800,000 to just over $400,000 per annum for 2008.

"The reduction in funding is a huge disappointment and will create major difficulties for SeniorNet, an organisation with almost 17,000 members and maintained mostly by volunteers."

Their workload amounts to around 170,000 learner hours per year, or the equivalent of over 200 full time students.

"What is worse is that the Minister of Senior Citizens, Ruth Dyson, recognised the effect it will have on SeniorNet, yet she claims her Ministry has no mechanism to help fund it.

.
"SeniorNet's negotiations with the Tertiary Education Commission to obtain a better grant have fallen on deaf ears.

"Our senior citizens deserve better and their funding should be maintained."

Births, Deaths and Marriages bill slammed by Law Commission

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:12:00 +1300

Law Commission President Sir Geoffrey Palmer has come out with scathing criticism of Labour's ill-thought out amendments to the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Act.

Papers received under the Official Information Act by National Party Internal Affairs spokeswoman Sandra Goudie show the Law Commission has serious concerns about the need to restrict public access to the register.

Sir Geoffrey says 'the access provisions proposed in the bill will not only affect the BDM registers, but may also have wider implications for access to other public registers'.

"Open and transparent access to the BDM register was called 'of vital importance to the community' as far back as 1836 when the first public register was established in England. Sir Geoffrey says the Law Commission believes the reasons for this 'still underpin the access provisions of the current Act in New Zealand'.

"Labour says increased identity fraud is the reason for the change, but the Law Commission disagrees, saying 'There is no evidence of how much identity fraud in New Zealand is made possible by access to BDM registers. Indeed, the information required for identity theft can be obtained from many other sources'.

"Like their blind, self-serving attempts to push through the Electoral Finance Bill, the BDM Amendment Bill is being promoted with little evidence of a public need or desire for change.

"Sir Geoffrey says, 'there are no figures available as to how many people, if any, have actually expressed concern about the current availability of information of the BDM register'.

"How many more ways can this nanny-state government find to interfere in people's lives? Their 'I know best' attitude is wearing very thin with most Kiwis, and their refusal to listen to the best advice is nothing short of arrogant."

Charities Commission chokes on backlog

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:45:00 +1300

Labour's new Charities Commission doesn't have a snowball's chance of processing all its applications by the deadline of July 2008, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

"There are an estimated 97,000 non-profit institutions in New Zealand, all of which must be registered with the commission by July next year in order to remain eligible for charitable tax exemptions.

"Only 800 of those organisations are registered so far and a further 2,800 are still waiting to be processed.

"The commission's website says it takes three-and a-half months to process a single application. If there are still more than 96,000 non-profit organisations to register and the deadline is nine months away – it simply can't be done.

"What's concerning is the status of these organisations when the July 1 deadline comes and goes. Is the IRD going to start hunting them down for back taxes?

"Labour needs to address this mess immediately. They cannot change the rules without ample time for organisations to comply.

"Charities must be assured that their tax-free status will not be affected by Labour's inability to process the applications".

Minister's insult: rural firefighters called 'Austin 7's'

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:43:00 +1200

Rural firefighters received more proof of the low regard in which they are held by Labour at the Rural Forest and Fires conference, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

"Rick Barker is hell-bent on centralising New Zealand's fire services, with Rural Fire Authorities being told they can either join the new Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) or they must continue to find their funding through rates. This is a takeover by threat.

"The Minister fails to appreciate that New Zealand rural volunteer firefighters are among the most competent and highly regarded in the world and in demand to help fight wildfires internationally.

"He told delegates at the Rural Forest and Fires Conference in Nelson that he doesn't buy into the 'if it isn't broken it doesn't need fixing' argument.

"In his speech he compared the volunteer force with a '1936 Austin 7, which may be in 'effective working order but everyone knows we could get better.'

"Rick Barker sees the FRS as a flashy new toy to play with. It is a tragedy that he has no problem trading in a solid, reliable, well-respected and well-performing model to get it."

No costings done on fire levy shake-up

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:44:00 +1200

National Party Internal Affairs spokeswoman Sandra Goudie says Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker has confirmed that "he doesn't have the first clue" about how much his proposed shake-up of fire levies will cost or who it'll hurt.

"Having billed his proposals as meeting 'New Zealand's needs for the next 30 years and beyond', everyone assumed he might have had some idea about the impact of his proposals and the costs on those who will be affected.

"Sadly, he hasn't done his homework."

Ms Goudie asked questions in Parliament today about a letter declining a request for official information because costings do not exist. (letter attached)

"What message does he have for Fonterra which said in its submission that the proposals were 'flawed and inequitable' and what message does he have for the Insurance Brokers Association which says the Minister's proposals will shift the burden 'to weigh more heavily on responsible businesses'?

"Is this what he had in mind when he said these proposals would 'meet New Zealand's needs for the next 30 years and beyond'?"

Mrs Goudie asked Mr Barker if he agreed with rudimentary costings published by the NBR newspaper which suggest levy costs could increase by more than 2,100% at Corrections, and 1,950% at District Health Boards.

"How can he disagree with these estimates, given that by his own admission costings have not been done?

"Mr Barker's kite-flying exercise has angered hard-working fire volunteers and the industry that would be responsible for collecting his new levies.

"Like the paralysis gripping Labour in other areas, these proposals will need drastic re-writing during the select committee process. Is this what it's come to – Labour wasting Parliament's time announcing policies that have no costings, no consultation and no chance of success?"

Click to download Rick Barker Letter

National's view on 'births bill' infectious

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:43:00 +1200

Two more political parties have joined National in opposing Labour's proposed changes to the registration of births, deaths and marriages, says National Party Internal Affairs spokeswoman Sandra Goudie.

National was the only party to oppose the bill during its first reading but is pleased that both United Future and the Green Party support National's position.

"Labour says the bill is needed to tighten access to public records, which is unproven, and there is also increasing nervousness that this is an unacceptable infringement of freedom of speech.

"We have said from the start that there has been no public consultation on this bill and it poses a very serious threat to public access to births, deaths and marriages information.

"Historians, journalists and genealogists are very concerned that this will limit their ability to do research.

"The Government has arrogantly proceeded with this legislation despite a complete lack of consultation before the bill was presented to Parliament.

"The mounting opposition to the bill will prove to be another nail in the coffin of a lame-duck Government that is increasingly struggling to pass legislation because of their arrogant refusal to listen to any views contrary to their own."

Minister shrugs over complete rejection of his fire reforms

nospam@example.com (Admin) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:42:00 +1200

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker appears not to give a damn that every single rural fire authority in the country has rejected his fire reforms out of hand, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

"What the Minister appears not to understand about consultation, is that it requires listening, not just presenting your own fait accompli"

At the 2007 Regional Rural Fire Committee Chairpersons' Conference last month in Christchurch, Labour's reforms of fire and rescue services were strongly rejected.

"This rejection was unanimous and came from the Chairpersons and Deputies of the eleven Regional Rural Fire Committees, the National Rural Fire Advisory Committee, and Rural Fire District representatives.

"For the Minister to blithely state that, if regions don't like the idea of coming under the control of a new centrally-administered body, they can stick with the funding status quo, is disingenuous.

"He knows that councils struggle to fund rural fire units and, instead of offering them help, comes up with a grand takeover plan. Councils will save hundreds of thousands of dollars if they roll over and allow Wellington to run the show, but at what cost?

"Our rural volunteers are the backbone of this country's fire fighting brigade. They are dedicated, hardworking and capable. Their local knowledge makes them invaluable.

"Even in the 2003 government briefing paper on a proposal to reform the sector, it was acknowledged that our network of fire fighters ranked extremely highly internationally.

"For Rick Barker to unilaterally dismiss the sector's well-considered rejection of his grand plan is short-sighted and terribly, terribly dangerous."