3. Question No. 3—ChildrenDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT) to the Minister for ChildrenQuestion No. 3—Children3. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT) to the Minister for Children: What feedback if any has she received about Oranga Tamariki's work to ensure taxpayer money is being directed to where it can achieve the best outcomes for children and young people?Hon KAREN CHHOUR (Minister for Children): I received the following email from someone who works in the sector: I know from my own experience as a family criminal youth lawyer that the media often get things wrong. However I feel the negative spin that is being put on these proposals completely lacks merit and comes from a place of ignorance. Clearly those complaining don't know what is happening in agencies such as Oranga Tamariki or they are agencies who have been milking the system for years and now that's being brought to an end. A significant portion of work I do involves OT and the care of children and I have been appalled over the past few years at how much taxpayer money has been wasted on agencies that make big plans yet deliver nothing but sometimes a glorified babysitting service. It was your proposal that gave us a bit of hope." This is the reason that Oranga Tamariki needs to focus on outcomes where the money makes the most difference so we can assure taxpayers and workers within the sector that the money is going towards the best outcomes for children and young people.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What other feedback has she received from people working in the sector?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Another piece of correspondence I have received from the sector reads as follows: "The more those agencies and the other side of the House complain the more confident Karen and her team should feel that they are on the right track. I believe it should be a condition of all OT funding contracts that agencies are required to identify up front their targets for outputs and outcomes achievement under funding contracts. I further believe that they should be required to report back to OT annually on what they have actually achieved. As someone who has worked in the sector I have seen gross inefficiency and ineffectiveness in many of these organisations."Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What is Oranga Tamariki (OT) trying to achieve by taking a more rigorous approach to investing taxpayer money?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I want to assure New Zealanders that Oranga Tamariki is not closing down providers. Some providers have funding from multiple services and multiple agencies. Oranga Tamariki has identified services that are either underdelivered duplicated or could have been delivered by other providers or agencies. Providers will still be funded for the other services that they provide. I've asked Oranga Tamariki to take a more rigorous approach to contracting to ensure the $500 million worth of services that it funds each year gets to where it will have the greatest impact. Under the last Government OT was allowing providers who were underdelivering on contracts to keep unused funding they were funding services that weren't core business and they were duplicating services in various parts of New Zealand.Hon Member: This is a very long answer.Hon KAREN CHHOUR: Some people seem to believe that we should keep giving money to organisations for services that haven't been delivered. That will only put more children at risk.DEPUTY SPEAKER: That was a long answer. I just will say that if I'm having a little trouble hearing the Minister I'm sure that the Opposition members are having trouble hearing her answers as well. The Hon Willow-Jean PrimeHon Willow-Jean Prime: Thank you Madam Speaker. My question—oh supplementary.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Questions will be heard in silence please.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: What feedback has she received about Oranga Tamariki's funding decisions for children and young people from the Chief Children's Commissioner; the Independent Children's Monitor; Social Service Providers Aotearoa representing 200 members; the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services representing 250 organisations; E Tipu E Rea; Tai Poutini Whanau Po Kite Ata Trust; Family Start Nelson; Franklin Family Support Services; Women's Support Motueka; North Shore Women's Centre; Manukau Friendship House—DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a very long question.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: —Homebuilders West Coast Trust—DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think we've had enough examples.Hon Willow-Jean Prime: —Presbyterian Support Canterbury; and the many many other valued community services across the country?Hon KAREN CHHOUR: I think that is a question that should be put in writing so it can get a substantive answer."