Dunne welcomes Matangi trains March commitment

 Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne today welcomed the announcement by KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council that the new Matangi trains will be operating on the Johnsonville Line from March 19.

Mr Dunne, who has been a long-time campaigner for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line, says having a definite start date for the Matangis is great news, and ensures the line's future for at least the next 30 to 40 years.

“Now they need to deliver. It has been chaos and shifting deadlines and empty promises thus far. They really need to deliver this time,” Mr Dunne said.

KiwiRail and the council announced morning peak hour buses would supplement train services on the Line until March 19 because of ongoing problems with the existing trains.

“Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, and it is fair to say it has been an inauspicious start to 2012 for KiwiRail.

“There is no room for more failures,” Mr Dunne said.

Dunne releases media suicide reporting guidelines

New guidelines for journalists reporting on suicides have been developed with the media and not imposed on them, and that should be key to their success, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says.

“Media buy-in for such guidelines is crucial. This is the first time that media organisations have agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines.

“The fact that these have not been imposed from outside augurs well for their success,” Mr Dunne said in launching the resource today.

“We have deliberately steered away from a prescriptive, imposed-from-outside approach to get something that the media will work with,” he said, adding that he would like to see media outlets publishing the guidelines on their own websites.

“Media have agreed to these guidelines and they owe it to their readers, listeners and viewers to now transparently demonstrate their commitment.”

The guidelines have come out of roundtable meetings during this year chaired by Mr Dunne and involving the Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean, senior media representatives, mental health professionals, organisations working in suicide prevention, and government agencies. 

“The end result is a resource that all media can use to ensure a level of consistency and informed professionalism in how they approach reporting the very sensitive and complex issue of suicide.

“The guidelines are straightforward, accessible and designed to be useful to journalists working under tight deadline pressures,” Mr Dunne said.

He said he was pleased with the open and constructive debate from all quarters throughout the process.

‘There is a myth that we should not talk about suicide; that it is too sensitive, painful, difficult or dangerous to do so.

“However, people need to know that it is okay to talk about it.  It is how we talk about it that is important and this document helps advance that cause,” Mr Dunne said.

“The media play a critical role in making sure that any public conversation on suicide is informed and useful, and that it does not create further risk or harm,” he said.

The full guidelines can be found at: www.health.govt.nz/publication/reporting-suicide-resource-media

Dunne bans another synthetic cannabis substance

An additional synthetic cannabis substance is in the process of being banned and expected to be off the shelves late next week, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

This brings to 20 the total number of substances now banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said, in noting that it comes days after the head of the National Poisons Centre, Dr Leo Schep, said the centre was no longer receiving calls about synthetic cannabis.

“It’s yet more evidence that we actually have killed Kronic and its likes, and adding this latest substance to the banned list is just another nail in the coffin of synthetic cannabis substances,” Mr Dunne said.

The provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act to issue such notices became law in August, and to date the notices issued have resulted in up to 50 products containing synthetic cannabis substances being banned from sale.

The notices are issued on substances rather than commercial products, meaning that the products that contain those substances effectively become banned.

The latest substance has been identified as the chemical AM-2233.

“I have been informed by the Ministry of Health that this chemical is understood to be present in a product called Tai High.”

Mr Dunne says today’s announcement means any product, containing this chemical, will be removed from shelves and no longer able to be sold over the internet in New Zealand.

The Temporary Class Drug Notice will come into force on 29 December, seven days after the notice is published in the New Zealand Gazette.  

The notices follow a law change which was introduced in August.  The provisions are a holding measure until permanent legislation can be developed next year to reverse the onus of proof so all such products must meet appropriate levels of safety before they can be approved and sold

Confidence and Supply Agreement

United Future agrees to provide confidence and supply for the term of this Parliament, to a National-led government

The relationship between United Future and the government will be based on good faith and no surprises.

Consultation arrangements

The Government will consult with United Future on issues including:

• The broad outline of the legislative programme
• Key legislative measures
• Major policy issues; and
• Broad budget parameters.

Consultation will occur in a timely fashion to ensure United Future views can be incorporated into final decision-making.

Formal consultation will be managed between the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of the Leader of United Future.

Other co-operation will include:

• Access to relevant Ministers
• Regular meetings between the Prime Minister and the United Future Leader
• Advance notification to the other party of significant announcements by either the Government or United Future; and
• Briefings by the Government on significant issues before any public announcement.

Ministerial Position

The Leader of United Future will be appointed to the positions of Minister of Revenue, Associate Minister of Health and Associate Minister of Conservation. These ministerial positions will be outside of Cabinet.

Policy Programme

The National-led government has agreed during this term of Parliament to adopt and implement the following broad principles, policies and priorities advanced by United Future:

• Passage of the Game Animal Council legislation currently before Parliament to establish the Council as a Statutory Body
• Reinstatement of the Income Sharing Bill currently before Parliament in the Government‘s upcoming reinstatement of legislation Motion
• Continued development  of the long term medicines strategy for quality use of pharmaceuticals in the health sector, Medicines New Zealand, including the enhanced role of Pharmacists in patient medicines management
• Reducing elective surgery waiting lists by greater utilisation of private hospital capacity, in a planned way, where this cannot be met by the public hospital system
• Investigate provision of a no-charge annual health-check up for over 65 year olds for implementation when fiscal circumstances allow
• There will be no sale of any part of Kiwibank or Radio New Zealand
• Introduce statutory limits on the sale of public assets to no more than 49% of shareholding to private interests including limits on the extent of single entity ownership
• Maintain at least current Budget funding tracks to TVNZ and Radio New Zealand to ensure they continue to fulfil their existing public broadcasting roles
• Support Public-Private partnerships for major roading infrastructure developments where these are deemed to be the preferred options regionally and nationally, in particular the Transmission Gully highway
• Put in place the necessary legislative provisions to cease guided helicopter hunting on the conservation estate involving the shooting of game animals from helicopters and the herding and hazing of game animals as part of the hunt, and the inequitable access provisions for guided helicopter hunting in wilderness areas
• The Families Commission will have two broad functions – the existing functions will be headed by a single Commissioner, and new monitoring, evaluation and research functions to drive quality services for families. In addition a Families Status Report will be developed to measure how New Zealand families are getting on, and government will re-direct $4m over four years to fund extra parenting programmes and relationship education in secondary schools
• Investigate cross agency co-operation for the further development of ‘Youth One Stop Shops’ support services
• Introduce pre-release assessments for all sentenced prisoners appearing before the Parole Board regarding their alcohol and/or drug dependency; and
• Maintain free public access to rivers, lakes, forests and coastline.

The government notes that United Future has been committed to its “Flexi-Superannuation” proposal as a key part of its retirement policy and agrees that a government discussion document investigating this issue will be developed.

The Government further notes that United Future has been committed to improving water quality in our lakes rivers and streams, in particular mitigating the impact of agrarian runoff on these waterways, and in ensuring quality standards and existing management of water supplies, and agrees that United Future will be consulted and involved in any initiatives concerning these issues.

The Government has identified the initiatives on National’s Post-Election Action Plan as priorities and United Future acknowledges the electoral support for this plan.  Accordingly, United Future agrees to support the legislation required to give effect to the plan, insofar as it is consistent with this agreement.

National will consult with United Future about the details of the legislation that it proposes, before its final decisions are taken. Where any points of difficulty arise, both parties agree to discuss these in good faith seeking a mutually-agreed resolution.

Briefings

It is agreed that the Leader of United Future will be briefed on significant issues which are likely to be politically sensitive before any public announcements are made.

Confidentiality

It is agreed that where briefings are provided to United Future, or where United Future is involved in a consultative arrangement with regard to legislation, policy or budgetary matters, all such discussions shall be confidential unless otherwise agreed.

In the event that government papers are provided to United Future in the course of consultation or briefings they shall be treated as confidential and shall not be released or the information used for any public purpose without the express agreement of the relevant Minister.

In the event that Cabinet or Cabinet committee papers are provided to United Future for the purposes of consultation they shall be provided to a designated person within the Office of the Leader who will take responsibility for ensuring they are accorded the appropriate degree of confidentiality.

Collective responsibility

United Future agrees to fully represent the government's position and be bound by Cabinet Manual provisions in respect of any areas within the portfolio responsibility of the Leader of United Future, and to support all areas which are matters of confidence and supply.

In other areas "agree to disagree" provisions will be applied as necessary.

Where there has been full participation in the development of a policy initiative outside of any portfolio responsibility held by the Leader of United Future, and that participation has led to an agreed position, it is expected that all parties to this agreement will publicly support the process and the outcome.

Cabinet Manual

United Future agrees to be bound by the Cabinet Manual in the exercise of Ministerial responsibilities and, in particular, agrees to be bound by the provisions in the Cabinet Manual on the conduct, public duty, and personal interests of Ministers.

Procedural Motions

United Future agrees that it will support the government on procedural motions in the House and in Select Committees, unless United Future has previously advised that such support is not forthcoming.

The Government agrees that it will operate a no surprises policy in terms of procedural motions it intends to put before the House or a Select Committee.

Select Committees

United Future and the Government will consult on the make-up and operation of select committees with a view to reaching an agreed majority position.

Legislative Programme

Support for particular legislative measures which do not relate to confidence or supply will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Dated 5 December 2011

Rt Hon John Key                                                        Hon Peter Dunne
National Leader                                                          United Future Leader

Super, asset sales limits, Families Commission lead UF deal

Public consultation on Flexi-Super, locking in a 49 percent statutory limit on any asset sales, supporting public-private partnerships in transport and health, and refocusing the Families Commission for the role it was always supposed to have are key UnitedFuture achievements in its confidence and supply agreement with National, the party’s leader Peter Dunne said today.

“We are delighted with the very substantial and specific items we have negotiated with National and will be able to deliver in the next three years,” Mr Dunne said

Other key points in the agreement include:

• Placing the Income Sharing Bill currently before Parliament in the Government‘s reinstatement of legislation motion
• Continued development  of the long term medicines strategy
• Reducing elective surgery waiting lists with greater planned use of private hospital capacity where this cannot be met by the public hospital system
• Investigating free annual health checks for over 65s when fiscal circumstances allow
• No sale of any part of Kiwibank or Radio New Zealand and ensuring water quality standards and existing management of water supplies
• Maintaining at least current Budget funding tracks for TVNZ and Radio New Zealand to ensure they continue to fulfil their existing public broadcasting  roles
• Support public-private partnerships for major roading infrastructure developments (including Transmission Gully)
• Outlawing heli-hunting on the conservation estate
• Investigating cross-agency co-operation for developing and establishing ‘Youth One Stop Shops’ to offer support services for at-risk youth
• Introducing pre-release assessments for all sentenced prisoners appearing before the Parole Board regarding their alcohol and/or drug dependency
• Passing the Game Animal Council legislation currently before Parliament into law
• Maintaining free public access to rivers, lakes, forests and coastline;

Mr Dunne said he was delighted with the agreement.

“The term ‘commonsense’ comes to mind on all aspects of it.

“I believe New Zealanders will look at this agreement and see great value in many if not all of the items UnitedFuture has negotiated.

“They are practical and achievable and will benefit New Zealand and New Zealanders, from Flexi-Super to youth services ‘One Stop Shops’ to holding the line on how asset sales can be conducted, and much more.

“This is an excellent agreement and UnitedFuture is committed to playing a very positive part in a very positive and stable government for New Zealand over the next three years,” he said.