8. Question No. 8—HealthMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of Health: Why as of the end of April 2021 had only 0.2 percent of the $235 million announced in Budget 2019 for capital investment in mental health and addiction facilities actually been spent?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): The $235 million was set aside for the investment into rebuilding or upgrading mental health facilities from the total Vote Health allocation of $1.1 billion for the mental health services upgrade. Health capital projects follow a detailed process which takes time. This includes prioritisation business case development and design work all before building can start. For example the original announcement for the full rebuild of the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre in Waikato said the facility would open in 2023. In relation to what the member says has been spent the member should be aware that there is a timing difference between what is spent by district health boards on a capital project and what is claimed from the Ministry of Health and booked against the relevant appropriation. Claims for expenses incurred for capital projects are made at relevant milestones—for example once the detailed business case and allocated funding has been approved or at relevant times during the financial year. Of the five projects funded from the $235 million allocation four are on the detailed design phase and one is still awaiting a business case. All are incurring expenditure right now but only two have sought minimal reimbursement for preliminary work.Matt Doocey: Why did the Ministry of Health mislead the media yesterday when it stated they couldn't say how much had been spent on building—Hon Grant Robertson: Point of order. I'm not sure—I think there are various Speakers' rulings about using the phrasing that the member did in that question. I'm not sure that's within the Standing Orders.Nicola Willis: But only in relation to members of—SPEAKER: Order! Who interjected then? The member will withdraw and apologise.Nicola Willis: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: And I'll reverse out the decision I made earlier.Matt Doocey: Speaking to that point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Speaking to that point of order?Matt Doocey: Well the reason I'm able to put that primary question is because I received from the Ministry of Health how much they actually spent yet yesterday they told the media when asked the same question that they didn't know how much—I'd call that misleading.Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking further to the point of order. The point is that it was made as a direct assertion. Mr Doocey's provided us with some information which may or may not be correct—we can't see that—and I don't think it's with—Nicola Willis: Ah!SPEAKER: Who was that?Hon Grant Robertson: It's a repeat offender Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Who was it? Who made that noise?Nicola Willis: I did.SPEAKER: The member will leave the Chamber.Nicola Willis: Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker.Nicola Willis withdrew from the Chamber. Matt Doocey: Would it be helpful if I slightly rephrase the question—might get through with your permission? Can I give it a go?SPEAKER: The member can give it a go. I was tending in his direction anyway but have a go.Matt Doocey: That's OK—here to help. It's been a tough day for you guys. SPEAKER: So the answer is now no. So if the member wants to use another supplementary he can.Matt Doocey: Why has only one new mental health facility opened since Labour came into Government almost four years ago?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: There's a very good reason for that and that is that apart from one facility that the previous Government approved in 2015 and that opened last year that Government did absolutely nothing for mental health services in New Zealand. They left the mental health services in this country in an absolutely parlous state which is why as soon as we took office we did a stocktake we had a review and we developed a plan—a $1.9 billion plan—that is a four- to five-year plan and we are part-away through implementing that with all the benefits that the Prime Minister has already articulated but we are doing a plan. It is good it is making a difference and it is the right thing to do for vulnerable New Zealanders.Matt Doocey: What was the point of the last mental health review initiated by the Government in 2018 if we now need to have another review announced this morning?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The reason we had the review in 2018 is because the previous Government left mental health services in an absolutely parlous state. They just totally ignored the emerging mental health crisis in this country—they washed their hands of it. And the sad reality is that as typically happens Labour Governments end up picking up the pieces. But the pieces when a Government neglects mental health are the shattered lives of vulnerable New Zealanders who we are now desperately having to repair a broken system for so they get the treatment and care that they deserve.Matt Doocey: How can New Zealanders trust the Government's review into mental health announced by him this morning when his Government's failure to deliver in mental health is the problem?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I'm happy to go through what this Government has done in the two years since the announcement of the $1.9 billion upgrade: 520 fulltime equivalent roles now added to our mental health services 360 health improvement practitioners and health coaches in GP practices 50 in kaupapa Māori health services 50 in Pacific mental health services and another several dozen in our youth mental health services. So we have added considerably to it. We've made the commitment to significantly upgrade or rebuild five mental health facilities because they were left in a state of neglect by the previous Government. We have done more in mental health in the last 3½ years than was done in nine years of that previous National Government.