Clark DavidMENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING COMMISSION BILLThird ReadingHon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): I move That the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill be now read a third time.I'd like to acknowledge from the outset the whole House for its support in bringing this forward to its third reading. I'd particularly like to acknowledge our coalition partners New Zealand First for their ongoing interest and support for having an independent commission and I also acknowledge our confidence and supply partners in the Green Party who also have been keen advocates for this outcome. I want to thank too the Health Committee for its speedy and considered recommendations that helped shape the bill that we have before us. Improving the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealanders is and should continue to be a focus for all of us here and it has been pleasing to see the overall support for establishing the new commission. This Government has taken significant steps to improve mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand. We have expanded access and choice in the primary care area and also addiction supports. We've developed initiatives to prevent suicide and support people bereaved by suicide. We've improved support for people experiencing mental distress and addiction. We've strengthened specialist alcohol and other drug services and expanded enhanced school-based health services the so-called nurses in schools. Progress has been very difficult but there is more work to do. Sorry I shouldn't say difficult"; I should say "significant"—all progress has its own challenges but what I mean is "significant". Transformation does take time and must be supported by a long-term commitment and focus and it's important New Zealand continues to prioritise mental wellbeing throughout the challenges we are facing. That is part of the commission's role keeping us on track. The bill delivers on the election commitments made by Labour New Zealand First and the Greens. It also fulfils the commitment in the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First. Now I want to briefly speak to the commission's role. It will provide confidence that the Government is on track as I've said. By providing independent system-level oversight of mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand it will hold the Government of the day and other decision makers to account for their contribution to the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealand. The bill gives the commission the ability to look at the full spectrum of mental wellbeing and this was well canvassed in the committee stage debate. That goes from the promotion of mental wellbeing to the social determinants to how the system is supporting those with serious need. The commission therefore has a wide scope to consider factors that contribute to mental health and wellbeing from outside the sector and that goes to things like income employment poverty housing social connection and discrimination. The Government's intention is that the commission look at those determinants in so far as they impact on the mental wellbeing of all people—not all domains of wellbeing; there are other agencies involved in that work as well. The commission has three types of main functions. The first set of functions relates to monitoring reporting and making recommendations. The commission will assess and report publicly on the mental health and wellbeing of people in New Zealand and that will provide transparent information to the public and to the Government and non-Government decision makers about what's happening and how it's working. It is important the commission is not just a monitor but that it also contributes to improving the system so it will also make recommendations for improvements to approaches to mental wellbeing. The commission can make recommendations to any person and that includes to Ministers and it can compel information also from Government agencies. The commission's functions and powers allow it to identify opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of approaches to mental health and addiction services or other areas outside the mental health and addiction sector that impact on mental health and that goes to those areas I've spoken to just before.The second function is about promoting alignment collaboration and communication between those involved in mental wellbeing. It is critical that we have a mental health and wellbeing system that's joined up and accountable. The collaboration role is particularly important given the commission's broad focus and the many contributors to mental wellbeing from both the health sector and from other areas.The third function of the commission is advocacy for the collective interests of people who experience mental distress and addiction and the people who support them. We know that effective advocacy can actually be an important contributor to people's mental wellbeing and to equitable provision of services. It can ensure that the voices of people are heard and that the people who are affected remain at the centre of decision making. And the commission's advocacy function gives it the platform to promote positive mental wellbeing and to challenge stigma challenge discrimination and challenge other barriers to mental wellbeing. The commission's role is to contribute to improved mental wellbeing for all New Zealanders. Unfortunately we know that the burden of mental health does not fall evenly in our society; some are at a disadvantage and experience poor mental health and addiction outcomes more often than others. Equity is therefore at the heart of the commission's role and the importance of this aspect was reflected during the select committee process itself where I'm informed there was strong interest from groups who represent those people with poor mental health outcomes. Throughout the bill the intent is clear that the commission must assess and report on precisely this area on equity and a system that contributes positively to achieving equity for Māori and for other groups that experience poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes currently in society. As part of its focus on equity the commissioner must have effective means of seeking views. It must seek the views of Māori people with personal experience of mental distress and addiction and people who share a common identity experience or stage of life that increases the risk that they will experience poor mental health and wellbeing. Groups listed in the bill as being of risk of experiencing poorer mental health and outcomes include disabled people Pacific people rural communities children and young people rainbow communities refugees and migrants. So in closing as we recover from COVID-19 I expect the commission will play a key role in assessing the ongoing impact COVID-19 has on the mental wellbeing of people in this country. I anticipate that the commission will monitor how the mental wellbeing of individuals whānau and communities is being supported at all levels from community-led interventions to the all-of-Government contribution to mental health and wellbeing. It's important in my view that New Zealand continues to prioritise mental wellbeing and the commission has an important role to keep us on track and to be a voice for the collective mental wellbeing of people in this country. If the commission is effective in performing its role it will help improve and increase trust in New Zealand's approaches to mental wellbeing. I commend this bill to the House."