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Consultation has opened today on a discussion paper by the Ministry of Health on actions to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

The public are invited to make submissions to the Ministry until February 26, 2016.

The Government has committed through the National Drug Policy, to publish a cross-government Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Action Plan in the 2015/16 year.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the Ministry of Health’s update of key New Zealand Health Survey results, released today.

The data shows an increase to 84% of children (aged 1-14 years) visiting a dental health care worker in the preceding 12 months, up from 76% in 2006/07 and 79% in 2011/12.

The number of children who have had teeth extracted has also come down, from 3.9% in 2011/12 to 3.4% in 2014/15.

The Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Bill has been introduced to Parliament.

The Bill is designed to repeal and replace the now outdated Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966. It provides for the compulsory treatment of a small group of people with severe substance addiction and severely impaired capacity, who are unable to engage in treatment of their own accord.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced seven appointments to the Film and Literature Board of Review, commencing from 1 January 2016.

The Board is established under section 91 of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Act) as a statutory appeal body to review classification decisions of the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has today welcomed New Zealand’s return to 10-year adult passports.

Legislation necessary to effect this change, a change driven by public demand, was passed into law on 20 October and enables the Passports Office to start issuing 10-year adult passports to applicants from today.

“It is gratifying to announce the wait is over and New Zealanders can now apply for and receive a passport that has a more practical lifespan that reflects their travel patterns and requirements.”

Australia and New Zealand have struck a new agreement which will enable government agencies and businesses to electronically verify official government issued identity documents in either country.

This will help organisations to offer more efficient online services and to promote cross-border travel, migration and commerce.

Importantly, the agreement will also help to better protect the more than 600,000 New Zealanders settled in Australia and the 65,000 Australians in New Zealand from the destructive effects of identity crime. 

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne will represent New Zealand at the meeting of the D5 Digital Leaders’ Summit in Tallinn, Estonia 18-20 November 2015.

The D5 is a grouping of five nations–New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea, Estonia and Israel – considered amongst the most advanced in the provision of on-line government services. Its establishment is a British Government initiative and this is the second meeting of this group following the inaugural summit held in London in December last year.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne have announced a list of twelve telecommunications providers who have been selected to provide telecommunications and managed security services to Government.

Government agencies will be able to easily select the suppliers and services they want based on their business needs. The All of Government contract will save taxpayers at least $20-$30 million within the first two years

Firstly I would like to start by acknowledging the following people from the UFBA here today:

your President, Mark Adie, and Vice-President, Russell Anderson;

your Chief Executive Officer, George Verry;

Deputy chair of the UFBA Board, Nigel Lilley and Board members Bill Butzbach, Glenn Williams, and Matt Cleaver;

Rick Braddock, Chairperson of the UFBA Board, and Patron of the UFBA, Dame Margaret Bazley.

A series of drugs that pose a serious health risk will soon be subject to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Associate Minister of Health, Peter Dunne, says he has accepted an expert recommendation to schedule three of the NBOMe family of substances as Class B1 drugs.

“Earlier this year the World Health Organization considered reviews of these three substances, and found they were an especially serious risk to public health and society, were of no recognised therapeutic use, and were being manufactured clandestinely.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced that the present subsidy for children’s passports will continue with the move to 10-year passports.

From 30 November the price of all standard adult passports issued in New Zealand will be $180 and child passports will be $105 (including GST). That is a 42 per cent subsidy from the adult fee, the same as currently in place for a five-year passport.

The fee for a standard 10-year adult passport will be around $90 cheaper than the fee for two five-year passports.

Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne is welcoming the launch today of an ‘airline-style’ patient safety card and video. The resources are available to all New Zealand hospitals. Mr Dunne says the airline industry leads the way on safety and the resources echo the industry’s simple way of ensuring people know how to stay safe.

Kiaora tatou, good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Tim and NZSMI for the invitation to give the opening address for your annual conference, I am delighted to be able to join you. May I acknowledge Dr Gerald Dziekan, Director-General of the World Self-Medication Association and Mr Nicholas Hall for being here and for your willingness to share your insights with us. 

I want to also acknowledge Dr Janine ByCroft who will be launching the Self-Care Alliance. 

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has noted with interest news from Australia today that Health Minister Susan Ley will introduce legislation that will allow for research and development of medicinal cannabis products at a federal level.

"While I have yet to see the detail of the proposal, from what I have read it looks like a positive development for furthering the science in this field. I will certainly be seeking further information on the proposed legislation and looking at how New Zealanders suffering from certain medical conditions may be able to benefit from it.

Law changes contained in Gambling Amendment Bill (No.3) passed by Parliament today will help fulfil the purposes of the Gambling Act 2003 says Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne.

“The main purpose of the Gambling Act is to ensure that money from gambling benefits the community. There are large sums of money at stake here and it’s important that we get a good system and that the proceeds that are raised from gambling go where they are meant to. The passing of the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 3) helps to achieve that purpose.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today welcomed the passage of the Passports Amendment Bill (No 2), which will enable adult New Zealanders to be issued with a passport that is valid for 10 years instead of the existing five year validity period. The new 10-year passport will be available in approximately six weeks from 30 November 2015.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne has announced a number of decisions affecting the gambling sector.

Mr Dunne told the Hospitality NZ conference in Nelson today while he was increasing some gambling operators’ fees and reviewing the minimum amount that gambling trusts must return to the community from class 4 gaming machines, he was also looking to a wider review of the sector. Mr Dunne said the government is concerned at the decline in gross proceeds from gaming machines over the past 10 years.

Good afternoon.

I want to talk today about some of the developments affecting the class 4 gambling sector and to make a few announcements on future directions.

Gambling policy is one of the key areas in my Internal Affairs portfolio and one that I have given considerable thought to since I took on the portfolio last year.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced the reappointment of four members of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission until 31 March 2016.

The Rt Hon Wyatt Creech will continue as Chair of the Commission for another six months and David McFarlane as Deputy Chair. Rangi Wills and Angela Hauk-Willis will also continue to serve until 31 March 2016.

Mr Dunne has been leading a public consultation on changes to New Zealand’s fire services and will seek a Cabinet decision later this year on how fire services would be managed, delivered and funded.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health, ACC and St John on a new electronic Patient Report Form (ePRF) technology. The ePRF will give Ambulance officers access to better patient information, including details of any previous ambulance call-outs, which could make the difference between having to go to hospital or being able to stay at home. 

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced 21 appointments across the Lottery Grants Board and 11 Lottery distribution committees.

There are three new members and 18 reappointments.

Lottery Distribution Committees make grants for community purposes, using money allocated by the Lottery Grants Board from the profits of New Zealand lotteries.  There are nine national committees focused on particular themes or issues and 11 regional committees with a general community focus.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.  Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.

Thank you Dr Gruner for your warm welcome. I appreciate the opportunity to open this important conference.

I would like to also extend a welcome to Dame Tariana Turia and to the other conference presenters and to welcome all RACMA members and supporters. 

Warm greetings to all of you who have travelled to New Zealand specifically for this conference.

I would first like to comment on the important role medical administrators play in our health services. 

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced three new appointments to the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library.

The Guardians role is to advise the Minister on key matters associated with the operation of the Alexander Turnbull Library.

“I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Dr Aroha Harris, Dr Sydney Shep and Dr Jock Phillips for three-year terms. I am privileged to have the opportunity to bring together such a well-qualified group of skilled people to continue the work of the Guardians Kaitiaki”.

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced three new appointments to the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC).

“I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Brian Morris, Dr Judith Johnston and David Reeves for three-year terms. I believe their wealth of experience will be of great benefit to LIAC”, said Mr Dunne.

“I am also reappointing Carolyn Robertson and Helen Tait for further three-year terms. I am appreciative of the strong contribution these members have already brought to LIAC”.