The WorkSafe NZ vs Ministry of Social Development decision in the Ashburton WINZ shootings are a farce.
Turning WINZ Offices into places that are even more intimidating and severe is not the bloody answer, ending this Government’s draconian welfare policies is!
Beneficiaries are treated little better than cattle by a large number of burnt out frontline WINZ Staff, and adding to that underfunded hopelessness are counter-productive policies driven by ideology and not empirical evidence. These maddening, complex and purposely non-transperant policies are built to frustrate, demean, belittle and ultimately discourage altogether anyone needing help.
Living in a Car becomes preferable to dealing with Housing NZ.
If we are to be serious about protecting WINZ staff, we would replace the cruel social policy that generates so much anger.
Germany 1932 again, first they create the event to force changes that turn to draconian methods so this is a page out of the German’s history, repeated right here in NatZland.
Here is an interesting observation about leadership styles, its earthy , apt and very succinct.
Many Native Americans considered the wolf as their teacher…which is a peculiar thing considering they are canid’s…animals.
It was not only in the hunting techniques, but moreover in the social organisation and leadership. What they , and modern biologists have now learnt is that the Alpha wolf and his female are far from the aggressive, macho , bullying, domineering stereotypes we associate with certain forms of human leadership styles.
Instead , the leaders that last are accommodating, first to stand against dangers to the pack and the first to quietly lead the pack from danger. They are not always the first to decide when and where to hunt.
They are doting on the the young of the pack and look after aged members…
And often in their advanced years are repaid by having younger members bring food back for them. By contrast, aggressive vicious leaders are often exiled or killed once the pack matures and the leadership is challenged.
We are seeing a false leadership style being carried out today in this country. It has a shelf life. It uses neo liberalism to justify its aggressive stance . It is oppressive and delights in bullying the lower members of its pack to the point of indirect genocide. It does not protect its pack, it does not look after the elderly , it cares not for its young , nor for the lower tiers that help in the hunt to provide sustenance for others.
And all that is in store for this dysfunctional leadership is for the general groundswell of opinion to depose it. And that will happen.
Even nature itself stands as witness, as unmovable testament to these unseen, dynamic , yet simple and unchangeable principles of this universe, … that even the animals and small children can understand it.
Tanka suuk manitu.
WINZ as main department of MSD are too busy running trials and thus experiments of programs on WiNZ clients all the time now, and those refusing to participate can face sanctions, or at least harassment in the form of endless pressure on them.
I have come across some useful info offering insight into all this in the following posts.
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/mental-health-and-sole-parent-employment-services-msd-withholds-o-i-a-information-that-may-prove-their-trials-a-failure/
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/mhes-spes-msd-withholds-o-i-a-info-that-may-prove-trials-a-failure-post-nzsjb-final-14-04-2015.pdf
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/msd-and-dr-david-bratt-present-misleading-evidence-claiming-worklessness-causes-poor-health/
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/msd-dr-bratt-present-misleading-evidence-on-worklessness-and-health-post-09-08-15.pdf
Some OIA responses by MSD, also including info on assaults and insults and so directed at WINZ staff:
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/msd-oia-rqst-mhes-waa-other-support-services-reply-anon-hilit-26-02-15.pdf
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/msd-oia-rqst-mhes-waa-other-support-services-issues-reply-anon-26-02-2015.pdf
(see pages 9 to 13 for some data on assaults, intimidation and other unacceptable behaviour by WINZ clients towards WINZ staff!)
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/msd-oia-reply-ce-ment-health-emplmt-serv-work-ability-assmts-compl-hilit-24-04-14.pdf
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/msd-o-i-a-reply-d-power-mhes-waa-information-complete-24-04-2014.pdf
There is (see above) also info on their Sole Parent Employment Services and Mental Health Employment Services, which is though patchy and not that conclusive on the overall outcomes of such trial programs.
This is what Carmel Sepuloni, Labour’s (admittedly somewhat useless) spokesperson asked the Associate Minister for Social Development on 17 Sept. last year:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansS_20150917_00000477/sepuloni-carmel-oral-questions-questions-to-ministers
The Associate Minister’s final answer then:
“Hon JO GOODHEW: The member will just have to wait and see what the evaluation shows. However, what I can tell the member is that the Ministry of Social Development is certainly able to respond to finding out what is working well and what is actually getting people into work, and assisting these beneficiaries in their lives rather than being completely hell-bent on just leaving them on a benefit.”
UP TO THIS DAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED ANY EVIDENCE AND ANY EVALUATION SHOWING THAT THEIR TRIALS HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT THE DESIRED OUTCOMES!
Carmel Sepuloni should have chased this up long ago, but seems to be too busy with other things.
In the meantime we will soon have the Second and Third Readings of the ‘Social Security Legislation Rewrite Bill’, which includes bringing in law changes that will openly enable the “investment approach” being applied on beneficiaries, including the running of endless more trials on the guinea pigs called beneficiaries.
But does the MSM report anything?
A big FAT NO is the answer.
MSD even made changes to the Medical Appeals Board hearings, thus making it an even greater uphill battle for those with sickness and disabilities to appeal decisions made by WiNZ staff:
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/the-medical-appeal-board-how-msd-and-winz-have-secretely-changed-the-process-disadvantaging-beneficiaries/
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mab-process-how-msd-discretely-changed-it-further-disadvantaging-clients-nzsjb-18-03-15.pdf
They love to go on about threats that WiNZ staff face, and reported on Russel John Tully, the Ashburton shooter, who was described in a negative way as “manipulative”, “intimidating” and “violent”, but his younger years showed no such signs. Maybe he was turned into the human being he now is by a nasty system?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/77612963/russell-john-tully-went-from-nicest-bloke-to-killer
MSD simply do not care enough about beneficiaries as we have now learned about many turned away while homeless, while without work, and rather sleeping in cars than go and seek their “help”.
Talk about “wraparound services” we so often hear is total BS too, as that only means more intensive case management, i.e. more pressure on beneficiaries to go and get any kind of job, whether low paid, casual, part time or whatever.
I know of a person with mental health conditions who cannot access counselling as the publicly funded services do not offer such for his particular condition, and private service providers charge up to $200 or more per 45 to 60 minute session, which WiNZ do not pay for as the maximum of the Disability Allowance is about $61 per week.
Lies, lies and more lies, and now this, a court finding WINZ in breach of worker’s rights. That is only the rights of WINZ staff, never mind the people they deal with. Funding for advocacy and budget advising services are being cut back, so no support is available for the ones at the other end of the stick.
Who is surprised then that some express their anger and desperation?
“Turning WINZ Offices into places that are even more intimidating and severe is not the bloody answer, ending this Government’s draconian welfare policies is!”
We will probably see the introduction of “physical barriers” soon, doing exactly that. Or perhaps even WiNZ staff sit behind metal bars, through which “clients” will only get inside by passing a check by a security officer, who already stand outside the doors in most offices right now.
This may embolden the nasty WINZ workers, those that may be a minority so far, to dish out even nastier “advice” to clients in future.
Has anybody here by the way noticed that when you send an email to their ‘Online Service’ email addresses, you now only get replies that bear no name, if your lucky only a reference number?
That is what we have now seen happen all the time, if you seek some advice or info from WINZ or other MSD departments, they no longer put their name under emails, that is unless the Manager writes to you, as it is also with letters from WiNZ offices.
Such impersonal “service” gives the impression we are dealing with faceless robots behind the scenes. How can anybody seek redress if something goes wrong or is plain nasty? This means they are virtually unaccountable, when you can’t prove whether a particular person made a stuff up or so.
Dead right. And in this case, literally.
The mindset fits in with thatchers claims that there’s no such thing as society. Just individuals and families.
To quote the big haired monster spouting out poisonous logical fallacies to justify cutting welfare spending while giving tax breads to her tory masters:
” And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbour.”
Yeah, well fuck her then. The greedy old crone’s no Aristotle, I think that’s been proven.
And yet, our very own politicians follow her beyond the grave like the character Svengali in this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svengali, thatcher’s influence still holds sway over the simple mind. The result of which is dead people.
I heard the news this morning I could hear RNZ deftly and dishonestly skirt around that which you draw attention to hear. Fuck them too.
RNZ, by their deliberate and cowardly lack of proper analysis, threw the nightmare that’s foisted upon the powerless, vulnerable and terrified by the rich elite payed by us to do precisely the opposite to that which they’re doing.
I wonder what world Carmel Sepuloni lives in, talking about MSD needing to keep a “balance” when bringing in better security for staff and other clients at WINZ offices? She talks about staff training and “maintaining that level of comfort” people need when going into WINZ offices (hear her comments from about 2 minutes onward):
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201815835/ashburton's-winz-office-ruled-to-be-unsafe
This was on RNZ today, following a ruling by a court on the charges against MSD for failing to protect its staff.
On 1ZB she (Carmel) was quoted with the following:
“Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni said it is a big cost, but at the end of the day this is about lives and ensuring staff are safe in their workplace.
She said any cost that has to be worn by the Government to ensure staff are safe while they work in the public sector has to be worth paying.
Ms Sepuloni said the Government now has to look at what needs to be done to protect MSD staff.
“There are some pretty clear recommendations here about what needs to happen, and so it’s their responsibility now to make that happen. That is about ensuring that there’s adequate zoning, that staff are adequately trained.”
Green MP Jan Logie believes front line staff require better training to reduce the anxiety of beneficiaries, so they’re not coming into offices with a level of desperation.
“There’s an acknowledgement in that ruling of the predictability of the hazard of client-initiated violence. We have to look at what role the actual policies might be playing in creating that risk.””
As we read, Jan Logie was a bit more sceptical with her comments, at least mentioning the role policies may have in what happened and still happens.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/judge-msd-failed-to-take-all-steps-to-protect-staff-in-ashburton-winz-shooting/
“Daniel Blake”… By Ken Loach…. A must see British film …it depicts the total shrinking of their welfare state by the continuing Thatcherite neoliberal govts….making it deliberately much harder for genuine people to seek and or get help…shown via this very real and tragic film…of course, n.z is fast heading this way.
“Daniel Blake”… By Ken Loach…. A must see British film …it depicts the total shrinking of their welfare state by the continuing Thatcherite neoliberal govts….making it deliberately much harder for genuine people to seek and or get help…shown via this very real and tragic film…of course, n.z is fast heading this way.
John Key’s and Anne Tolley’s Brighter Future for the ones at the bottom:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201815831/beneficiaries-pay-hundreds-to-live-in-caravans
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/312895/nz's-poorest-spend-half-their-pay-on-housing
…burnt out frontline WINZ Staff…
Please don’t be too concerned about the WINZ frontline staff. You can’t fight a war without soldiers. However vile the executive directed culture of WINZ, at a personal level, the staff don’t have to exemplify it. But like moths to a flame, that very culture has attracted in so many small minded, nasty, rude, insulting, arrogant, cruel, power-hungry, shameless bullies that delight in humiliating and hurting you, as one that is already down – and they do hurt.
I’m recovering from such an unpleasant encounter at WINZ yesterday – that I’m not yet up to talking about it – but I will talk … soon. For now though, all WINZ staff aught to be reminded that they are civil servants, paid by society to faithfully and competently serve society – something that is far more than just one wicked government.
I’ve met tirelessly caring WINZ workers who absolutely hate the bureaucracy. Sadly they are the intelligent ones, and they always seem to look over their shoulders to check that no one in the hierarchy can hear them.
There is a helluva lot of pumped up “career women” who end up there, and lacking direction in their lives and frustrated with their lot, found pleasure and meaning in spitefully attacking the poor.
If you go back a few years to before the current government, WINZ actually had some compassion and character – there were regularly people in waiting to be served, and case managers would often make open suggestions or simply do what they can to help.
These days it’s strict and fierce, fines and penalties for ridiculous trivialities, or being told to come back for being as little as 1 minute late.
There is no one in the waiting room. They’re herded in like sheep at specific times because it’s more easy to force-feed them right-wing propaganda.
They’ve replaced all the “he tangata” posters with plain corporate signage fitting of Ricky Gervais’ The Office fame, while demoralising right-wing corporate propaganda floods out of TVs parroting cheerily demeaning garbage like, “I was hard up, but then I got a job and it was great”, or “You just gotta be pro-active and get out there, get a job”.
The security at the doors is just another tactic to keep the poor, the brown, and the disabled in fear, or better yet, away.
Heh, pretty much. Wouldn’t surprise me if WINZ staff are taught to treat all clients as fraudsters until proven otherwise.
So, here we are, another nasty piece of legislation the NATS and their ACT and other allies will push through without much consultation, they have certainly NOT given any honest consideration to the concerns of the submitters. The Social Security Legislation Rewrite Bill is heading for its Second Reading:
Here is the Select Committee Report out today:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/reports/
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/reports/document/51DBSCH_SCR69947_1/social-security-legislation-rewrite-bill-122-2-and-report
Read the PDF with the report, showing the minority party reviews also, by Labour and Greens, but the rest is grim:
https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/51DBSCH_SCR69947_1/0b8fd963cbf2e1b0cd3855e006822c09f1794809
Read the submissions and feedback, most IGNORED:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/00DBHOH_BILL68669_1/tab/submissionsandadvice
What the damned opposition needs to wake up to is how to handle a BLITZKRIEG operation by this government, when it comes to welfare reforms. They are slack, not onto it and failing, both Labour and Greens, they should be protesting and telling the fucking media what the hell is going on. We get NO INFO at all from this government complicit and compliant shit media in this country.
I repeat: COMPLICIT AND SHIT MEDIA, I HOPE YOU ONES WORKING IN IT READ THIS!!!
FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION REWRITE BILL (see page 3):
https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/51DBSCH_SCR69947_1/0b8fd963cbf2e1b0cd3855e006822c09f1794809
“Allowing certain health practitioners to do more”
“Clause 27(2) would rewrite existing provisions allowing “prescribed health practitioners” — such as nurse practitioners1 — to certify that a person’s work capacity is affected by a health condition, injury, or disability.
Nurse practitioners play an increasing role in primary health care, and we consider that, when appropriate, they should be able to endorse certificates in other situations.
Therefore, we recommend replacing the phrase “medical practitioner” with “prescribed health practitioner” in clauses 27, 28, 36, 40, 41, 70, 71, 78, 120, 149, 152, and 358.
We recommend inserting new paragraph (aa) into clause 397(1) to enable regulations to be made prescribing which health practitioners may perform the functions of each provision.
We recommend amending Schedule 2 (the bill’s “dictionary”) to include a definition of “prescribed health practitioner”. To reduce the risk of a practitioner making an assessment in an area of healthcare in which they are not an expert, the definition would require the practitioner to act within their scope of practice.”
So what does this mean??? Those that know a bit about this stuff is, they can tell you, that WINZ can then have outsourced, contracted “Designated Doctors” (who used to be GPs) who now only need to be nurses. Contracted Work Capability Assessment providers will thus also be able to use nurses instead of medical practitioners to certify ability to work or not, and write reports to WINZ.
And as MSD (the Ministry) have traditionally struggled to get medical practitioners and other suitably qualified persons to serve as their (behind the scene) ‘Regional Health Advisors’ and ‘Regional Disability Advisors’, they can now relax, as the nurses, some not even registered, who they have used, they can now “advise” on client’s health and disability more comfortably, without fearing being challenged.
Sadly most do not realise this, we will have the possibility of many other less qualified “health practitioners” sign the certificates that will make life easier for WINZ, and harder for sick and disabled, to get competent and quality medical certification.
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