Dunne: bill will reduce overall student loan debt

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says legislation passed by Parliament last night will make it easier for the Government to manage and reduce the overall size of student loan debt by making borrowers more accountable for repaying their loans. 

“This in turn will make the scheme fairer for the vast majority of borrowers who do honour their loan obligations and for taxpayers more generally,” Mr Dunne said.

The changes introduced in the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill to improve the rate of repayments by borrowers include:

• reducing the repayment holiday for borrowers who go overseas from three years to one year, and requiring them to apply for the repayment holiday and provide a contact person at the same time;

• removing the ability for New Zealand-based borrowers to offset losses against their income to reduce their liability for student loan purposes; and

• ensuring that Inland Revenue receives from StudyLink details of a borrower’s alternative contact person.  Borrowers must now provide this information when applying for a loan.

“New Zealand’s student loan scheme is a generous one but one that comes at a considerable cost for taxpayers.  It is important that the Government takes all necessary steps to improve the value, efficiency and fairness of the scheme,” Mr Dunne said.

“The new rules are a reminder to borrowers that a student loan is subject to the same responsibilities and obligations as any other substantial financial loan assistance – that is, it is a loan and it must be repaid.”

Peter Dunne welcomes new Matangi Trains on Johnsonville line

Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne has welcomed the arrival of the Matangi trains on the Johnsonville line, making it the first all-Matangi line in the Wellington suburban network. Mr Dunne, who has been campaigning for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line since 1984, says today’s launch was the culmination of a long, community campaign, and was a great day for everyone involved.

“There have been many times over the years when the future of the Johnsonville line has looked grim and uncertain, and where there were almost constant threats that the line would be closed down.

“It is only a few years ago that the then Wellington City Council wanted to close the line down, and turn it into a busway, and I remember then having to intervene with the then Minister of Finance to prevent that from happening. Today’s arrival of the Matangi trains could not be more far away from those dark days less than five years ago,” he says.

Mr Dunne says today’s launch was also an occasion to remember the old English Electric units that had been the line’s mainstay since its electrification in 1938.

“I well remember being told in 1984 as a new MP that they units were being refurbished, to give them another 8-10 years in service – well, they have bettered that almost threefold,” he says.

Mr Dunne says Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, but that the new Matangi trains along with the recent upgrades to the line, will secure the service to commuters for another 40 years.

“This is a great for the Johnsonville line and its users, and for public transport across the Wellington network” said Mr Dunne.

UnitedFuture welcomes new President

Wellington management consultant Robin Gunston is the new President of UnitedFuture, with former MP and current Whakatane Deputy Mayor Judy Turner standing down after three years in the role.

Mr Gunston has a strong business and community service background, including 30 years’ in the international oil and gas industry in risk management, health and safety, ICT and commercial management roles.

He has been a management consultant for the past 12 years, working with various branches of government, and currently directs the Prison Fellowship national charity.

“I believe my business background, and my passion for all aspects of community life in New Zealand will help lead the grass roots of the party as we clearly establish ourselves over the next few years,” Mr Gunston said.

“UnitedFuture is the only party that espouses core liberal values and principles, and there is still a place in the centre of New Zealand politics to foster and build support around those values,” he said.

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne welcomed Mr Gunston’s appointment, while saluting the contribution of the departing President, Mrs Turner.

“Robin brings great experience, energy and acumen to the role, and I am sure he will contribute strongly to UnitedFuture’s ongoing success.

“He steps into a role which has been ably filled by Judy Turner, who has made a wonderful contribution to the party over the years, both as an MP and in more recent years as President,” Mr Dunne said.

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