2 June 2015
Mentally ill NZers are not a cash cow for National’s mates
The Government’s plan to allow foreign banks and big money investors to profit off mentally ill New Zealanders is a part
of an ongoing plan to privatise public services, that will see more vulnerable Kiwis hurt, the Green Party says today.
In the House today, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman refused to rule out the possibility of social service providers
being driven to the wall by new social investment bonds that see organisations denied payment for not meeting the
Government’s targets
The Government has announced a plan for investors to fund service providers to help mentally ill New Zealanders into
work, on the condition that if the plan works they’ll earn a bigger cut of Government funding, but if it doesn’t the
Government will not pay for the service.
“Mentally ill New Zealanders need the Government to provide more of a commitment to them, not to abdicate all
responsibility for them to foreign banks and big money investors,” Green Party social development spokesperson Jan Logie
said.
“National doesn’t care that the biggest stumbling block facing New Zealanders with a mental illness who want to work is
discrimination. Having a big bank breathe down the neck of a social service provider, demanding outcomes so it can make
a profit, isn’t going to make that discrimination go away.
“The National Government has ignored the advice of the Department of Internal Affairs which warned investors will only
want to put money into programmes that are certain to work – which completely defeats the purpose.
“Social bonds are a continuation of National’s attempt to privatise public services, which will always see the most
vulnerable left out and National’s mates better off. In two years of charter schools, not one has enrolled a student
with the highest special needs.
“Investors always seek the best bang for their buck, and Kiwis who are the hardest to help, who come with no guarantee
they’ll ever pass an exam or get a job, pose the highest risk to investors. It makes sense that they’ll be ignored,” Ms
Logie said.
ends