David
CLARK
MP for Dunedin North

4th February 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT

Dunedin Labour MPs have called on the Southern District Health Board to reassess their decision to exclude Presbyterian Services Otago from their list of providers of home help services for the elderly.

Clare Curran, MP for Dunedin South and her colleague David Clark, MP for Dunedin North have written to each board member before the board meets in Dunedin this Friday. “Presbyterian Support Otago has been serving the Dunedin and Otago communities for generations, not only in the provision of home support services but through multiple programmes which support our most vulnerable and make Dunedin a better place to live” says Curran

“The SDHB has declined to engage in discussions to help the community understand their decision, as representatives of the local community we are calling on them to engage with those affected and consider including PSO as a fourth provider as allowed by the contract

“Clients and workers deserve their voice to be heard as do members of the community which has long been served by Presbyterian Support. A fair and transparent process is needed to ensure the best outcome of all involved, in this case the DHB has not done that and is continuing to decline to engage with PSO and other interested parties says Clark

“We urge them to keep community at the forefront of this decision and to consider the wider ramifications of the change in contract. Dunedin deserves a locally based and knowledgeable provider and we believe PSO should be reconsidered to be a part of the DHBs system for supporting elderly residents in their homes.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage