Hodgson Pete: Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Hodgson Pete: Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:640;Page:10586] 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) 
: 
 I move  
That the Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill be now read a second time 
. In speaking to the second reading debate I wish to congratulate the Health Committee on its sterling work in considering submissions on the bill and in reporting back to the House late last month. I am mindful that although there were relatively few submissions on the bill for many of those making submissions very strong and heartfelt emotions were in evidence. I am sympathetic to the proposed amendment to clause 6 which makes it clear that the commission is not precluded from reporting to me at any time. I also want to acknowledge the views of those who expressed support for the bill and of those who expressed opposition to the bill. 
The Mental Health Commission was originally established in September 1996 as a ministerial committee and was later established as a Crown entity under the Mental Health Commission Act 1998 with a term of 5 years. The mental health sector has changed considerably since the establishment of the commission. The Government has committed considerable funding and effort to ensure improved levels and quality of mental heath services. The sector is more stable and is not subject to the service difficulties that characterised the period that led to the Mason inquiry. The Government recognises the commission’s important role in supporting the implementation of the national mental health strategy and the development of the mental health sector. One of the commission’s key contributions has been to express the needs and the wishes of mental health service users. 
 Many challenges lie ahead for the mental health sector. I consider that retaining the commission would assist the sector to address these challenges provide a voice and support for stakeholders and help the sector achieve the goals set out in Te Tahahu—Improving Mental Health the new national mental health strategy released in 2005 and in the associated action plan Te Kokiri released last year. 
Te Tahahu signifies a new era for mental health and addiction policy and for the first time describes the outcomes the Government expects from its ongoing investment in mental health and addiction services. Te Kokiri focuses directly on implementing Te Tahahu and sets the programme of action to be achieved so that we meet the outcomes that we all want for mental health and addiction service users and their families and whanau. This is an important and considerable task. A key role for the Ministry of Health will be to exercise leadership over and drive the implementation of Te Tahahu and Te Kokiri during the next 10 years. In order to achieve the goals and objectives of Te Kokiri the ministry will need to work closely with all sector stakeholders including the Mental Health Commission. However if the term of the commission was to expire in 2007 the sector would lose an important vehicle for raising issues of substance and encouraging public debate on mental health during the period of the implementation of Te Tahahu and Te Kokiri. 
The policy behind the Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill was informed by a review of the Mental Health Commission conducted by the Ministry of Health earlier this year. The ministry’s review included public consultation. The vast majority of people who participated in the consultation were very positive about the commission’s contribution to the mental health sector during the past 10 years. Specific achievements noted by submitters included successfully developing the 1998 blueprint on mental health services which detailed the elements required for comprehensive mental health services in New Zealand; successfully articulating the needs of mental health service users in a way that had not occurred before the commission’s inception; challenging traditional models of care for the mentally ill; and promoting public awareness of mental illness. 
Many submitters commented that the development of the mental health sector needs to continue apace and that allowing the term of the commission to expire would slow progress and reduce the amount of support available to the sector. Some submitters raised questions about the scope of the commission’s role and the nature of the debate it facilitated. 
The Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill extends the term of the Mental Health Commission until 2015 and brings the commissioner’s terms of office into line with the Crown Entities Act of 2004. Because the mental health sector has changed considerably during the past 10 years the bill revises the commission’s current functions to ensure that the commission is well placed to assist the sector from 2007 onwards. This includes new advocacy functions designed to ensure the views of all stakeholders are represented and changes to the commission’s monitoring functions to ensure clarity around agency accountabilities and to minimise the duplication of effort across agencies. 
These revisions recognise that the mental health sector has changed for the better during the past decade. They are intended to address the concerns raised by submitters to the consultation process and those raised in submissions to the committee. I commend the Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill to the House.