Coleman Jonathan: Crown Entities Reform Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Coleman Jonathan: Crown Entities Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 23 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2338. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of State Services) 
: 
 We have had some very informed debate on the Crown Entities Reform Bill so far. It is good to get it to the Committee stage. It is good to see such agreement across the House about public sector reform. I would like to compliment the members of the Government Administration Committee on the work they have done on this bill. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of officials—people from a range of departments—in pushing through this very important legislation. I would also like to acknowledge my predecessor as Minister of State Services the Hon Tony Ryall who is the architect of this legislation and has put a lot of thought into it.  
It is good to see that the Labour Party is supporting Part 1 despite the fact that it voted against the bill last night. Listening to Kris Faafoi I do not think he is quite clear whether or not Labour will be supporting Part 2. I understand that it probably will be. And then of course we are going to have some rather contentious debate around Part 3. 
On Part 1 and the establishment of the Health Promotion Agency that is really going to give some focus to the work of that body. It is very important work promoting health to New Zealand communities. It is interesting though that the Labour Party’s first response on this is to ask for more money. It is not about more money although in fact I might add that this Government is putting more money into health than any Government in the history of New Zealand. But it is not about more money more borrowing or more people; it is about making sure that Crown entities are very focused on the work they have to deliver. I think that with this change which is going to bring that greater focus to health we are really going to see the benefits throughout our communities and populations throughout New Zealand because health has been one of the top priorities for this Government. If you look at the very focused way that the Minister of Health has gone about his work—identifying what he wants to achieve setting targets and then delivering on those targets—I do not think you could say there has ever been a more successful Minister of Health. There is no question that health needed that focus.  
We have heard some very vague platitudes from the Labour Party during this debate about health. But the fact is that when you look at what we have done around childhood immunisation rates around programmes to prevent rheumatic fever and around refocusing programmes that were failing such as the Healthy Eating - Healthy Action strategy—refocusing that around exercise and getting some measurable results—you can say that the approach this Government has taken has been very focused very specific and is delivering results. Grant Robertson was asking where the Ministry of Health fits into all this. Well what we can say is that the policy and the regulation the oversight function will still be preserved but the programmes are moving into this new entity and will be administered by the Health Promotion Agency. 
 I can say that it is great to see this unanimity across the Committee for what I think is an excellent initiative. It is great to see that. Maybe it is an early step in some of the Opposition parties really getting to grips with the concepts of State sector reform. But that has been a major priority for this Government—making sure that we can deliver meaningful results that actually make an impact in New Zealand communities. There have been tight financial times and a very tight fiscal environment. The answer is not borrowing more it is not pouring more money in all the time; it is making sensible use of the resources you have got setting some very clear targets and delivering on those.  
I would like to acknowledge the work that the Alcohol Advisory Council has performed over many many years. It has been very important work that has had a real impact in New Zealand communities. That work is going to continue on. The Health Sponsorship Council has also done very important work. But with this new entity we are going to see that work continue on and I believe that it is going to be enhanced because as has been acknowledged there will be that new and intense focus. 
I would like to acknowledge Kevin Hague’s commitment to public health and the points that he has made around the Ottawa Charter. I think to be fair few members of this House would have heard of the Ottawa Charter prior to the select committee process. But the point he made about bringing well-being into the broader definition of a public health outcome that we are striving for I think is one that is well made. When you look at that Ottawa Charter whether or not you have heard of it the principles embodied there are really common-sense principles that you would look for in any public health approach.  
So I think it is great that we have got such broad support across the Committee for Part 1. This entity is fully supported by the Government. It is a reflection of what we are doing in State sector reform but it is also going to produce some very valuable outcomes for New Zealanders.