There is no way that this is not a punishment…
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has rejected claims that the decision to cut funding to the Problem Gambling Foundation was due to political pressure.
The foundation confirmed this morning it had been informed by the Ministry of Health that from June 30 it would no longer be contracted for the bulk of its current services.
Opposition MPs have claimed the decision is due to the foundation’s vocal opposition to the SkyCity convention centre deal.
…this Governments love affair with SkyCity and its willingness to rewrite laws to allow SkyCity to do what they like is well documented. Punishing those who were the loudest critics is the exact sort of spitefulness this Government are well known for.
The Salvation Army who have picked up the contract also complained about gambling, but they aren’t political critics they way The Problem Gambling Foundation were.
Tau Henare’s tweet sums it up…
…how ugly. Allowing the Gambling industry to rewrite laws for themselves and having the Prime Minister pimp for a Casino is one thing, punishing the Problem Gambling Foundation for criticising that behaviour is another.
Worse than that – Peter Dunne made a comment on Twitter that suggests the Problem Gambling Foundation’s funding was affected by its supposed Labour Party links.
Blogpost to follow.
From the horse’s mouth, under the monica, ‘West Side Tory’
National MP Tau Henare gives the game away.
This is wrong on so many levels it isn’t funny.
Like they care.
They are going to do what they want and damn anyone who disagrees. Until we learn to treat them the same way, it won’t stop.
Parliament is not just made up of the government.
The election is only 6 months away.
If the opposition parties, and other small parties, feel really strongly about this, there are a number of things they could do.
They could issue a joint statement, something along the following lines:
1/ We the undersigned political parties
Hereby solemnly vow to the people of New Zealand,
And to the counsellors and carers of the Problem Gambling Federation, their support staff, and those families relying on these services, and for the Foundation’s help and support of those overcoming addiction to problem gambling.
2/ That on gaining the treasury benches, the new government’s first order of business, will be to fully reinstate the funding for the Problem Gambling Foundation. Including back pay and salaries and other expenses owing, to cover any deficit in your current operational budget up until the election and/or the first sitting of the new administration.
3/ Signatories…….
Hopefully; the opposition parties in giving a commitment like the one above would Insulate this vital public service from the government’s venom until after the election, as well as isolating the government and putting the media spotlight back onto this singularly corrupt act and keeping it there. Such an initiative would also single out any of the smaller outlier parties, who refused to join such a joint multi-party initiative, (looking here at you, NZF and Maori Party).
By identifying to the voters where the parties stand on this issue the public would be better informed on where to put their vote.
Other actions the other parties could take……
The agreeing parties could band together to try and get as many private members motions on this issue into the ballot as possible in the hope that they will be drawn before the election.
Rallying their supporters and member of the public to protest at the steps of parliament against this vengeful act.
The beauty of the above strategy is that it can’t fail.
Its a win win situation…..
If the Maori Party and New Zealand First buy into it.
As the two most likely support parties to provide National the majority to govern, even if they were part of the government they would be honour bound to vote down National on this issue. And with the support of the Labour Green opposition parties the vote would still be carried and the PBF fundig would be restored
.
On the other hand if the Maori Party and New Zealand First don’t buy into it.
This will be a clear indication of their intentions not to cross the Nats, revealing to all that a vote for the Maori Party and the New Zealand First Party is a vote for National.
This is wrong on so many levels.
“it stinks.”
Nasty , spiteful little jonky-stien huh ? Greedy , slithering little seemingly un-flush-able turd .
Creates a demand which in turn becomes a problem then pulls the plug on the repairs necessary while making a dollar . What a cunt .
You really don’t understand this issue do you Countryboy.
You really have to feel for SkyCity with this whole awful Problem gamblers thingy.
I mean if you start trying to deprogram and turn off gamblers who were otherwise punting all their money and especially anyone elses they could get their hands on, in SkyCity, then this will have a very negative effect on profits. And in this dog eat dog world where he with the most money when they die wins, what is a shareholder to think or do? How does this maximise their return? Treating gambling addiction is an outrage!
What a classic sad tribute to our spiteful “we only care about the wealthy and their money” government.
Dunne at his worst! And detestable government punishing of dissenting opinion and lobby.
Worse still RNZ afternoon panel member yesterday, was allowed to wax Nat party casinos-are-good-business line to the point of party-political-message level. Bill business something. At the same time that the Salvation Army was saying “who us?”, did we apply for that contract?–And why is the government giving contracts to an entity that overtly advertises as being a CHURCH. No matter how much good they do for heterosexual alcoholics only.
Why won’t the opposition Labour Party Leader say that on regaining control of the treasury benches Labour will reinstate the PGF’s funding, including back dating their costs for continueing with their current operation until the election?
Problem solved.
Is it another case of Phil Goff’s ill starred “Axe the tax” fake, shock horror, but leave it as it is campaigning?
Of course if Labour really don’t want to get the electorate, including those 800,000 who don’t vote, fired up…..
Maybe if the spent less time trying to be a political entity and more time concentrating on doing their job they wouldn’t be in this problem and the Salvation Army wouldn’t prove to be the more efficient, effective service provider.
Ummmm… care to explain how National influenced the Ministry of Health in deciding which provider to allocate funding for problem gambling services? Because if you can prove such a link exist between government and the ministry deciding who wins the contract to do something then you have a bona fide case of political corruption that will bring down the Government.
Why not ask National’s Tau Henare, he seems eager to spill his guts on this deal.
Have a look at the Trustees of many of the pokie trusts, very powerful and connected to the National Party. Check for relations of Maurice “Williamson” for starters.
Listen, people on both sides of the political spectrum have connections everywhere, this is a reality of political life. There are numerous instances where both the left and the right could accuse each other with equal justification. This is the real world of politics. At the end of the day it boils down to a game of tit for tat.
Problem Gambling Foundation were trying to do something to PREVENT gambling harm in the first place
Sallies (bless ’em other than their attitude toward gays) pick up the pieces afterwards
Does anyone else see how the PGF could not fit in the expansion of Sky City agenda
Charities fearful of speaking out on government policies
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