Public Needs to Be Reassured on Funds Allocation
Public Needs to Be Reassured on Funds Allocation
Thursday 1 Aug 2002 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Social Welfare
ACT Northland-based MP Dr Muriel
Newman is writing to both CYFS and the Health Ministry
questioning how they make decisions to fund health and
social services agencies and what ongoing monitoring they do
to prevent mass wastage of taxpayers money.
Dr Newman's action follows the allegations of poor management and wastage of funds at Northland agency Te Hau Ora O Te Tai Tokerau (THOTT).
"The problems at THOTT obviously didn't occur overnight. Why was the situation allowed to continue for so long?
"The public needs to have confidence that Government departments and ministries are, firstly checking into the credentials of organisations and people seeking funding, and secondly, that proper ongoing monitoring of the organisations and their use of taxpayers' money is carried out.
"There needs to be accountability. Without that, millions of dollars of hard earned taxpayers' money could be flushed down the drain.
"If the processes at CYFS and the Health Ministry are inadequate, then the problems with THOTT could just be the tip of the iceberg.
"I look forward to a full response from the two government agencies outlining their systems and processes. It is vital that public confidence can be restored," Dr Newman said.
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.