Goudie Sandra: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Goudie Sandra: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:634;Page:6001] 
12.  
SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: Is he satisfied with the Ministry of Health’s contracting and monitoring of problem-gambling service providers; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes I am satisfied with the strategic progress being made but there is always room for improvement. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Does the Minister stand by his statement that if these people are not able to meet the targets then “we will be requiring money back from them”; if so when does he expect this money will be repaid? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The Ministry is in active discussion and negotiation with the twelve at-risk providers and I hope to have a report by the end of next week on that. I cannot prejudge what might be required from those providers or from the ministry to rectify the situation. 
Sandra Goudie 
: How long does the Minister think it is acceptable for teething problems to continue—teething problems such as the Te Rapuora health services paying $86124 for counselling six clients—and is he aware that contrary to his earlier claims most of those providers have had contracts since July 2004? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am informed that five of the 12 are brand-new providers. The other seven have had contracts with the ministry before. However they have been funded for a range of services broken down into different categories and they range from brief and early intervention peer support community assessment and intervention and community follow-up. These are all necessary services to try to get to the estimated 40000 people in this country who have problem-gambling addictions. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Why does the ministry continue to pay problem-gambling service providers hundreds of thousands of dollars when the Minister’s officials have seen quarterly reports that show providers were falling well short of contracted levels and would not a competent Minister expect his department to withhold money for non-performance? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am asking for a review of the contracts themselves to make sure that they have realistic targets that can be achieved and that they have negotiated sensible contracts with providers who often struggle to get people with the capability and the skills to do this very difficult job. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Which are the 12 problem-gambling providers that are currently under review and when does the Minister expect that review to be completed? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: As I said there are 12 of them. They are included in the list that I have provided the member and I am hoping for a report back on them by the end of next week. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Minister received any reports suggesting that it is a bit rich for the National Party to raise this issue now given its support back in 1989 when the far right of the Labour Party brought in casinos and recent gambling outlets all of which they were warned against; now we have 40000 problem gamblers and the National Party has finally woken up and is concerned? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I am very aware of the problem. I am also aware of the irony of the situation and understand that the member on the other side of the House is rather enthusiastically supporting a gaming industry that for the most part delivers entertainment but for 40000 New Zealanders delivers a very sad outcome. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table the voting record of New Zealand First on this matter which has been to consistently—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: This is a point of order. The members who shouted out will please leave the Chamber. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: It was Mr Carter and Mr Hide. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would they please leave the Chamber until the end of the day. 
Hon David Carter withdrew from the Chamber. 
Rodney Hide withdrew from the Chamber. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table the voting record of New Zealand First which shows we opposed these issues when they were raised. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection? 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The member has sought leave to table the voting record of New Zealand First. That is fascinating: on what? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. The member clearly identified what it was on. He clearly identified before he was rudely interrupted by members who are no longer with us that he was referring to the voting on the introduction of casinos. Is there any objection to that? There is objection. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: I seek leave to table the voting record of Winston Peters during 1989 on the legislation regarding casinos. 
Document not tabled.