Time for Bennett to ditch the weasel words

It’s time Paula Bennett ditched the weasel words and began to front up with some honest answers about what Government has planned for the NGO sector, says Labour’s Social Development Spokesperson Annette King.

“The Social Development Minister has repeatedly refused to answer questions in Parliament about the sector’s future, despite mounting concerns which are now being expressed across New Zealand.

“She needs to explain why groups like Age Concern and the Te Rito Family Violence Network are being told they can no longer have three or four year contracts and must instead make do with annual contracts.

“Is she aware that the costs and the disruption associated with annual contracts have a significant impact on the ability of the sector to plan for services and to assist vulnerable people?

“The NGO sector has been told it will not get the $29 million in additional funding that it expected for the 2009/10 year under Pathway to Partnership. Paula Bennett needs to explain this,”Annette King said.

“And she also needs to explain why the West Coast Refuge has had a funding cut and the Blenheim Refuge is under pressure to reduce funding requirements.

“All these things are happening despite the fact that there is currently a growing demand for NGO services and the Salvation Army is reporting a 44 per cent in food parcels distributed in the first quarter of this year.

“Worse still, I understand that what little money might be made available for NGOs in the upcoming Budget as part of some sort of Community Response Package will explicitly rule out funding for increased demand for services.

“Of course I was unable to put these questions to Paula Bennett for the second time in two weeks because she failed to show in the House and got her frontbench colleague Gerry Brownlee to blather on her behalf.

“Well, it’s time she fronted up – in person and with some honest answers,” Annette King said.

ENDS

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