Sabin Mike: New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill Charities Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sabin Mike: New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill Charities Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 30 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2727. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I was not a part of the Government Administration Committee but I am very pleased to be able to take a short call on this legislation. We have heard calls from the Opposition not unsurprisingly about the minuscule savings: “It’s a few million here a few million there.” It seems to be a theme that creeps through. The savings we are talking about are in the order of $19.6 million over 4 years—$4.1 million per year ongoing.  
Iain Lees-Galloway 
: That’s huge! 
MIKE SABIN 
: We hear comments from across the floor as usual because they are quite flippant with their regard to taxpayers’ dollars. A few million here a few million there soon becomes a few billion here and there which is pretty much why this country was going into recession in 2007 after 7 or 8 years of their “a few million here a few million there” of taxpayers’ dollars. I have not had an opportunity yet to speak in the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill debate but I am very much looking forward to that.  
Charles Chauvel 
: And we’re looking forward to you.  
MIKE SABIN 
: I will fix my tie. Thank you Mr Chauvel I appreciate that. Thank you very much.  
Charles Chauvel 
: Always looking after your interests. 
MIKE SABIN 
: It must have got a bit out of shape after my time in the gym. But really what we are talking about here is a continuation of the theme in Budget 2012. One of the key planks in that Budget is about delivering better public services. That really is at the heart of what these three bills the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill the Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill and the Charities Amendment Bill (No 2) are about.  
What we are talking about is part of the Government’s overall programme of improving State sector performance. This reflects an ongoing willingness by this Government to show some leadership in finding efficiencies and ensuring the very best use of taxpayer dollars in delivering public services.  
Of course the Opposition does not seem to think that that is a very important thing to do. That pretty much sums up why those members are sitting on that side of the House. To be quite honest although they spend most of their time opposing it is a fairly good gauge to members on this side of the House that we are heading in the right direction. It is something that seems to be fairly well supported by those in the public when you look at the polls and the 20-point difference that exists between the two major parties. I think that pretty much sums it up. This is about efficiency. This is about service delivery. This is about getting better synergy in terms of backroom functions. These are all very important in these tough economic times when we are making sure that we get the best bang for buck for the taxpayer.  
I want to just briefly come to the three specific bills. 
Kris Faafoi 
: It’s about time. 
MIKE SABIN 
: Thank you Mr Faafoi for that valuable contribution. The first bill the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill relates to the establishment of the Health Promotion Agency as a Crown agent and disestablishes the role of the Alcohol Advisory Council the Health Sponsorship Council and the Crown Health Financing Agency. In respect of the Health Promotion Agency’s alcohol-specific functions the Health Promotion Agency will be required to have regard to Government policy when directed by the responsible Minister rather than being required to give effect to Government policy. As a former drug educator I see great advantage in this and certainly commend this move.  
The second bill the Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill relates to the expiry of the Mental Health Commission Act 1998 and the appointment of a Mental Health Commissioner. The Hon Ruth Dyson made a comment about the agreement reached by Dame Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark and their commitment to mental health. I want to endorse those comments made by the Hon Ruth Dyson. What I actually believe we are doing here is reinforcing the importance of mental health approaches and the responsibility that Government must have in this very concerning area.  
Thirdly if I can just turn to the Charities Amendment Bill (No 2) this is the one that seems to have created the most interest—if I can put it that way—from some of the submitters. The Charities Amendment Bill (No 2) sees the disestablishment of the Charities Commission and the reassignment of its functions and duties to the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs. There is some call that this will somehow lower the independence and bring it into some murky dark lands of Government departments. Quite simply I do not accept that. I think it is probably more an opportunity for Opposition members to try to score a few points where they have failed to in the other areas. They know that this is good law. They know that this is about continuing to drive better efficiencies in our public service delivery. They know that this is about better use of taxpayer dollars. They will oppose it. That is usually a fairly good indicator we are on track. This is nothing less than what the New Zealand public expect of us it is what they deserve of us and I am very very happy to commend these three bills to the House.