Tolley Anne: Families Commission Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTolley Anne: Families Commission Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 19 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16811. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Police)on behalf of theMinister for Social Development: I move That the Families Commission Amendment Bill be now read a third time. The changes provided for in this bill are integral to building a stronger more resilient social sector. On behalf of the Minister for Social Development can I thank officials and the Social Services Committee for the work they completed to get this bill here to the House today. With a more focused and streamlined structure the Families Commission will be in a much better position to contribute to the social sector than it has been previously. With the creation of the new social policy evaluation and research unit—or SuPERU—Government agencies NGOs academics and philanthropists have a vital new tool for the important work they do with New Zealand families. We are confident that these changes have the power to improve decision making across the social sector and as a result help New Zealanders improve their lives and build better futures.The bill proposes to amend the commission’s current role. Two broad functions will be established headed by a single commissioner down from the original seven. The social policy evaluation and research unit will be able to carry out thorough and independent research on and monitoring of the issues faced by New Zealand families and the communities they live in. We have historically had a real gap in this area as has been clearly identified by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman. The Families Commission already undertakes some research but this has been restricted specifically to its advocacy role for families. This bill extends this research and evaluation function across the entire social sector.The commission will also play an important role in coordinating research and evaluation across the wider social sector. This is a significant change particularly at a time when agencies are working closer together than ever before in sharing ideas and expertise. The Families Commission must be able to review and evaluate cross-sector work to remain relevant and to provide vital independent expertise. This goes beyond merely identifying opportunities for evaluation and research. Through these changes the commission will be expected to actively identify evidence and research that will support the achievement of social sector policies and priorities. The academic rigour of the unit and its focus on delivering greater transparency and value for money will allow us to work out what supports and services will add value to the social sector. This will ensure that the Government and communities are making decisions based on the best possible advice.The changes proposed in this bill not only enable the commission to take a sector-wide view; they task it to do so. Simply put there is no point in undertaking research to have it sit on a shelf unread. As the sector changes the way we measure it must change as well. We have made it clear that in carrying out its monitoring evaluation and research functions the commission will be acting independently of the programmes and interventions being monitored or evaluated. This is essential to make sure that the work of the commission is seen as credible and robust and not captured by provider interests.Already the unit has taken over the management of the longitudinal study Growing Up in New Zealand from the Ministry of Social Development. In last year’s Budget the Government committed $6.4 million to the Growing Up in New Zealand study. This is New Zealand’s largest and most diverse longitudinal study and it is following the lives of 7000 4 to 5-year-olds from birth until they reach 21. It will provide information on child development that is New Zealand - specific. We have got high expectations that our investment will deliver results providing robust information that can be used to inform policy.The bill also requires the commission to prepare and publish an annual family and whānau status report. The first has already been published with the second due shortly. The report is a valuable means by which the well-being of New Zealand families can be regularly measured and monitored.Additionally the bill provides for the creation of a social science experts panel. This group will provide guidance and academic peer review of research undertaken by or for the commission to ensure that all research is rigorous and credible. It is important to be clear that the panel is to provide quality assurance and not to direct the work of the commission. The proposed changes require a minimum of four panel members and we are pleased to note that the commission has already established an expert advisory group. This group is made up of seven respected academics and professionals representing a range of disciplines and experience. This clearly demonstrates the willingness of some of our best minds to contribute to the work of the commission. Even so the panel would not provide the sole means for peer review of the commission’s research. There may be occasions where the range of expertise offered by the panel would not be wide enough to provide peer review and guidance in all the required subject areas. In these cases the commission has the ability to consult more widely.The final changes provided for in the bill are largely designed to refocus the commission’s governance arrangements. To that end this bill requires removing the title of commissioner from all but one member of the commission who will be known as the Families Commissioner. This will focus the attention of the other commission members on their governance role as board members. It puts the commission on the same footing as most other Crown entities. By aligning the governance of the commission more closely to other Crown entities roles and responsibilities will become clearer with a leaner and more effective structure. As such the autonomy of the commission as prescribed in the Crown Entities Act 2004 remains unchanged. The commission will continue to have regard to Government policy only when directed and would not be required to give effect to it. The board will ultimately decide the course the commission takes. It remains responsible for decisions relating to the operation of the commission. This is consistent with the Crown Entities Act which states in section 25(1) that the role of the board of a statutory entity is “to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the entity.”We firmly believe that the Families Commission Amendment Bill will enable the commission to become the modern forward-looking and relevant organisation it needs to be to meet the needs of an ever-changing and innovative social sector. I commend this bill to the House.