Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Taking a very big gamble

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  • Matthew Poole, in reply to ,

    So why did [the Sallies] just compleat for the funding to provide gambling addiction treatment?

    They didn't compete. They just got anointed as national provider of gambling addiction treatment services. Your ire is misplaced.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    The money involved in this issue is supposed to be coming from the state, isn’t it?

    Nope. Dedicated levy on gambling providers to provide gambling addiction treatment services. It's in the law, even.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    They didn’t compete.

    And even if the Sallies did put in a competitive bid, why is that a problem? If they believe they can provide a better service for the same money, that's good for society, no? Or is your disdain for them sufficient that you don't think they should take part in tender processes for provision of addiction treatment services? Because that's how our health system works, for better or worse.

    Of course, in this case there was no tender process, there was no competitive bidding, there was just a decision based on an application for continuation of existing funding that the PGF is no longer welcome in the tent. It stinks of being political.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to ,

    And I'm still not sure why that's a problem, Steven. You clearly have a problem with the Sallies, and that extends to viewing their participation in the system as it stands as being inimical to their providing addiction treatment services. They "compete" for funding in the same way that anyone else who wishes to contract for provision of public health services "competes", and in the same way that any other charity that relies on public donations "competes".
    You make it sound like they're doing something unethical and underhanded that makes them unworthy of getting this contract.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    This whole thing reeks worse and worse the more that comes out. Even el Granny things there's a bit of a pong.

    If there was indeed a full tender process in which the Sallies participated, how do they not know they placed a bid for the whole shebang, thinking rather that they'd applied to continue their existing work in a limited geographic area? How does the successful tenderer apparently find out from the media that they've become the nationwide provider?

    Someone is being exceedingly opaque about this whole thing and I'm inclined to extend the Sallies the benefit of the doubt, since they'd have nothing to gain by lying about the extent of their involvement but a whole heck of a lot to lose reputationally if said lie were found out. Unless their command structure is actually incapable of organising a session of alcoholic over-indulgence in a liquor manufacturing premises, which is possible but doesn't seem likely given their general competence.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Moz, in reply to ,

    and ways had to be found around the regulations.

    That's what I like to see, the leaders in a rules-based enterprise leading by example.

    I read that, and I think "so what other rules are subject to that sort of creativity", but then I realise "love thy neighbour as thyself" is probably top of the list.

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to Tim Michie,

    Attachment

    Apologies off-topic but: Is it just me or is anyone else hoha on the government spending such a campaign on selling their attractively priced Genesis shares, complete with jingle?

    I'm thoroughly pissed off by the sale itself! Driven only by ideology and political face-saving.
    Genesis Energy - here represented by the waters of Waikaremoana near the intake to the first of three power stations - is held on trust for the peoples of New Zealand. (So one might think. Though apparently it's not according to law.)

    The cost of TV advertising doesn't worry me. It's small relative to the other direct costs of sale, and trivial compared to the economic sabotage of the sale overall, especially in this year's market. And the adverts are so dire - that "jingle" is such a jarring jangle - I'm tempted to suspect an inside job of sabotaging the sale.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • PhilipW, in reply to ChrisW,

    Well I'd like to fantasise along the lines of the Nats losing this election by the 'landslide' your pic evokes.

    Otherwise consider this a 'all is ok' smokesignal.

    Victoria • Since Mar 2014 • 1 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to ChrisW,

    The Opposition tapped into the perfect wedge issue with NZPower, unfortunately they didn't push hard enough on it to have an Orewa Rotary effect. Here's hoping Matt McCarten will help make it so.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • ChrisW, in reply to PhilipW,

    Well I'd like to fantasise along the lines of the Nats losing this election by the 'landslide' your pic evokes.

    Smarter than the average Victorian, to recognise that Waikaremoana shoreline as landslide debris. But -

    Is this the real life?
    Is this just fantasy?
    Caught in a landslide
    No escape from reality
    Open your eyes
    Look up to the skies and see ...

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • ChrisW,

    Back on topic, more or less -- I see the Government has been down this track with the Salvation Army before, with inebriates --

    In 1906, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Habitual Drunkards Act. This act permitted magistrates to declare someone a habitual drunkard (any person convicted of inebriety three times in nine months) and commit them to an institution they deemed suitable to receive them. But at that time, there were no suitable institutions. The Government approached The Salvation Army and invited them to provide one. They opened a home on Pakatoa Island, in the Hauraki Gulf.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to ChrisW,

    They opened a home on Pakatoa Island, in the Hauraki Gulf.

    From Pakatoa Island to Rotoroa Island to.....ummm. I guess addicts got somewhere better to go.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Noticed this is still being looked at in the Herald

    But the review found that, in eight of the 13 regions, the panel selected providers "ahead of providers whose proposals had scored higher in the proposal evaluation results".

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Furthermore, the panel provided "no documentation for the method used by the panel to moderate the proposal evaluation results".

    Which is, to say the least, very interesting. The rest of the article outlines irregularities and possible irregularities. There isn't much robustness in this process, and I wonder what they were expecting the response of the sector to be.

    A proposed merger between the helpline services is being pushed through, and I hope the process has a much greater degree of integrity than this one.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to George Darroch,

    and I hope the process has a much greater degree of integrity than this one.

    I can be accused of being biased (I don't care) but I think this govt's track record is proof appalling with regards to care of NZ citizens and our human rights etc so with that I suspect (especially having spent 5 years listening to answers in Question time) that many "panels" have been set up this way with cherry picking the appropriate person of a "right" bent rather than neutral. Paula Rebstock seems to be up there as one person for reviews and reports. Would explain Shipley popping up everywhere for thousands per day also. Once and always with NActional, is follow the money.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

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