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Services focused on preventing elder abuse and neglect are to receive a significant funding boost.
Budget 2005 has committed a total of $3 million over four years to strengthen, improve and expand services in elder abuse and neglect prevention. Annual funding for each prevention service will increase by 39 percent, meaning the average funding increases from $34,000 to $47,000 per service.
A total of $89,000 a year goes to services with very high delivery costs due to geographic or cultural reasons, or high caseload demands.
Elder abuse and neglect prevention services have been under pressure from service delivery costs and this extra funding will help ease that.
Another $164,000 in 2005/06 and $156,000 in 2006/07 and subsequent years have been earmarked to strengthen national co-ordination.
The extra funding will fund national and regional forums, induction training for new co-ordinators, regular staff training, and additional national resources. It will also help increase public awareness of the problems of elder abuse.
Abuse of older people, of any form, is unacceptable. This new funding and the policy work ahead, demonstrates our commitment to removing the incentives and vehicles for abuse.
More than 500 people are set to receive hearing aids and disability equipment shortly.
Additional funding of up to $1.7 million (ex GST) has been made available to ensure people receive equipment over the next few months.
The Ministry of Health spends more than $70 million on aids and equipment each year to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
What this $1.7 million injection means in real terms is that 374 people will receive hearing aids, 35 will get wheelchairs or mobility equipment and 101 will have modifications made to their homes.
This is in line with this government's commitment to the disability sector and our desire for a fully inclusive society.
Establishing an independent prison complaints body will be a major step towards ensuring that in future prisoners are not paid compensation for mistreatment.
The complaints body will be established by the end of next year, following passage of the Prisoners' and Victims' Claims Bill.
The Bill introduces statutory guidelines that restrict compensation for inmates to exceptional cases. It helps victims to pursue compensation from offenders by establishing a Victims' Special Claims Tribunal to hear civil claims, and by suspending limitation periods on claims while the offender is in prison.
Two sunset clauses have been introduced to the Bill. The guidelines for judges on the payment of compensation will expire on 30 June 2007, unless renewed prior. This will enable the government to review the guidelines and make any amendments if necessary in the light of their application.
Most New Zealanders find it abhorrent when prisoners are awarded compensation payments for wrongs they have suffered in prison, while the prisoner has frequently never paid any compensation to their victims for the harm they have themselves inflicted.
The Government is convinced that the measures in this Bill are the best way to deal with cases where prisoners may be awarded compensation by the courts.
The most effective way of stopping prisoners receiving compensation in future is to ensure they have no cause to complain in the first place, however.
The new Corrections Act and regulations provide for a robust inspection and complaints system that should ensure problems are addressed early and that grounds for compensation claims therefore do not arise. Establishing an independent complaints body will provide extra oversight and assurance.
More people will be able to get help to buy solar water heating units after a funding increase for a finance assistance scheme.
Under the scheme, people can get interest free loans to buy and install solar water heating. Since it started, the scheme has proved to be very successful. Funding for 2005-06 will increase to $400,000, compared with $200,000 when the full scheme started in 2003-04.
This good news for energy efficiency and solar water heating also has significant potential to reduce electricity demand. What's more, it is a viable option for homes and businesses.
Under the financial assistance scheme, money can be borrowed on an interest free basis to pay for the purchase and installation of a system. The goal is to see 10,000 residential systems installed by about 2008. Already we've seen numbers jump from 1055 solar systems in 2002 to 2343 systems being installed last yea and this year there are forecasts around 3500 solar systems will be installed in homes.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) administers the finance scheme, promotes solar water heating and assists with industry standards, working closely with the Solar Industry Association.
More information can be found at www.eeca.govt.nz
My most sincere congratulations to Dannevirke's Huia Range School Principal Robin Forsythe, staff, BOT members, parents, caregivers and children for the hours you have all put into making this wonderful new school a place to be proud of.
Unfortunately due to the House being in urgency on the day of the opening I was not able to attend but was pleased my electorate agent Sheryll could attend on my behalf.
I look forward to visiting the school when I'm able.
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