NZ Wellbeing Budget Gets Priorities Right
I was excited to learn of this. Prime Minister Jacinta Arhern is a light in this world who is brings REAL HOPE to many, not just New Zealanders.
I walked to the Australian Parliament with a sign ‘Homeless Don’t Vote” as they have no representation, no MP, no Minister and this society thinks it is fine for them to sleep on the street or remain without a home. I became homeless because I conscientiously objected to corruption in the privatised jobactive system. It was clear they do not have expertise to deal with social welfare issues or generate jobs as there are ideological beliefs that regard citizens in this category as ‘jobless’ rather than unemployed and expressing a range of social issues and needs. In my case when I was cut off I had no money so tried to obtain my superannuation under severe hardship, this was refused by the Minister for Human Services and the Superfunds. The government knew I had no money but sought to force me back onto welfare which I will never do. As I don’t give up my rights as a citizen and I found the services didn’t work in finding work and were unethical and not penalised for corruption. I can’t support that type of system, I regard it as profit over people.
What I have experienced is that no-one I had dealings with was concerned with my wellbeing nor had training regarding mental health. I saw there were stigmas and a sense of worthlessness either consciously or unconsciously believed about the homeless, I found those in the sector were not sensitive to the reality of homelessness. I discovered if you are not on Centrelink (welfare) you cannot access any services unless they pay. So it is conditional welfare and forces people to comply rather than a public service. There are considerable mental health issues as they are lonely and isolated feeling disconnected from that sense of home and belonging.
I am working on Homeless Lives Matter because I know the people are desperate people and need healing not harassment.
So I send congratulations to New Zealand for directing public taxation to where it is actually needed, this demonstrates true democracy of the people for the people. I feel very inspired to know there are leaders who actually value caring for others. Mental health is a significant issue and reflects a toxic society in denial of its own abuses and out of touch with the reality of the public.
People’s lives matter, no matter who they are in the world. Our world is prioritising violence and technology over the wellbeing of the people and the planet. That is how greed has come to dominate political agendas rather than social policy being the centre peace of government.
My last applause is Jacinta as the Minister for Child Poverty.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/30/new-zealand-wellbeing-budget-jacinda-ardern-unveils-billions-to-care-for-most-vulnerable
New Zealand ‘wellbeing’ budget promises billions to care for most vulnerable
Widespread praise for ‘world-first’ budget tackling mental illness, family violence and child poverty
After more than a year of curiosity and speculation, New Zealand’s Labour coalition government has unveiled its “world-first” wellbeing budget, to widespread praise from social agencies charged with looking after the country’s most vulnerable people.
The finance minister, Grant Robertson, unveiled billions for mental health services and child poverty as well as record investment in measures to tackle family violence.
“Success is making New Zealand both a great place to make a living, and a great place to make a life,” Robertson told parliament.
He said many New Zealanders were not benefiting from a growing economy in their daily lives, and this year’s budget had been designed to address the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots. According to predictions by the International Monetary Fund, the economy is expected to grow at about 2.5 % in 2019 and 2.9% in 2020.
Although comparable countries such as the UK have begun to measure the national rate of wellbeing, New Zealand is the first western country to design its entire budget based on wellbeing priorities and instruct its ministries to design policies to improve wellbeing.
As expected, mental health received the biggest funding and investment boost on record, receiving NZ$1.9bn (£980m). Half a billion was earmarked for the “missing middle” particularly – New Zealanders suffering from mild to moderate anxiety and depressive disorders that did not require hospitalisation but significantly affected their quality of life.
Close to half a billion would be spent on new frontline mental health workers stationed in doctor’s surgeries and Indigenous clinics, with the government aiming to help 325,000 people with “mild to moderate” mental health and addiction needs by 2023-24.
Mental Health experts described the government’s focus on mental health as “ambitious”, and expressed excitement and relief that improving the mental health of New Zealanders across the board was finally becoming a priority, as year on year the New Zealand suicide rate continued to climb.
“Mental health is no longer on the periphery of our health system. It is front and centre of all of our wellbeing,” said Robertson.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said for her, the issue of mental health was “deeply personal”. “Almost all of us have lost friends or family members. Ensuring that New Zealanders can now just show up to their GP or health centre and get expert mental health support is a critical first step.”
Measures to combat family violence also received a record investment of $320m, in a bid to tackle the country’s entrenched family and sexual violence statistics, which see the police respond to a domestic violence incident every four minutes.
Ang Jury, director of Women’s Refuge said the increased spending was urgently needed and her sector was “over the moon”, despite Women’s Refuge itself not receiving a boost.
New Zealand is among the worst for family and sexual violence in the OECD.
“We are really over the moon about the overall package, it’s great. By god yes this is the most spending by far, there’s not even anything to compare it to. The foundation they’re setting up to truly tackle this is absolutely fantastic.”
Child wellbeing, long a passionate focus for Ardern, who is in charge of the portfolio, will receive more than $1bn. According to Unicef 27% of New Zealand children live in income poverty, defined as going without necessities such as nutritious food, healthcare, and a warm, dry home.
“As the minister of child poverty, there is no ignoring the stress and strain that material deprivation causes our families,” Ardern said.
“When our children do better, we all do better.”
Robertson said: “For me, wellbeing means people living lives of purpose, balance and meaning to them, and having the capabilities to do so.
“This gap between rhetoric and reality, between haves and have-nots, between the elites and the people, has been exploited by populists around the globe.”
The opposition National party leader, Simon Bridges, slammed the budget as an overhyped “disappointment” that was failing everyday New Zealanders.
“This is not a wellbeing budget. Most New Zealanders will be left asking themselves what’s in it for them. Families want more money in their weekly budgets for food, petrol and rent. Instead, their taxes are going towards rail, the defence force and trees,” he said.
“This budget is style over substance. It might have a glossy cover with nice pictures, but it’s hollow inside. This botched budget is not transformational.”