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The announcement today by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority that it has suspended or refused licenses to sell approved psychoactive substances by retailers in Dunedin and Hawera has been welcomed by Associate Health Minister Todd McClay. In addition, a retailer in Stoke has agreed to surrender their licence following discussions with the Authority.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the removal from shelves of Kronic, K2 and Kryptonite and has asked the Ministry of Health to send all psychoactive substances which have received interim approvals to Environmental Science and Research (ESR) for extensive testing.

Japan and New Zealand today exchanged diplomatic notes, for a new double tax agreement which will make it much easier to do business between the two countries, Revenue Minister Todd McClay announced today.

“The New Zealand Government is extremely supportive of opportunities to increase trade with Japan and this agreement will further assist by reducing tax impediments to cross-border trade and investment. It will also assist tax authorities of the two countries to detect and prevent tax avoidance and evasion,” says Mr McClay said.

Associate Health Minsters Hon Jo Goodhew and Hon Todd McClay have welcomed today’s release of a report on serious adverse events in the mental health and addiction service sector.

The report, District health board mental health and addictions services: serious adverse events reported to the Health Quality and Safety Commission, looks at incidents of serious harm to patients of mental health and addictions services over the 2012/13 year.

DHBs reported 177 serious adverse events over the 12 month period, including 134 suspected suicides.

Thank you for your welcome and thank you inviting me to speak to you.

Since your last conference much has changed. Most obviously is the fact that you have a new keynote speaker. I hope I can live up to the high standards set by my esteemed colleague and predecessor, the very able Mr Dunne.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain and Inland Revenue Minister Todd McClay have announced a new information sharing agreement which will improve compliance with child support and student loan repayment obligations.

Under the agreement, Internal Affairs will provide Inland Revenue with contact details from adult passport renewals or applications. 

Despite the continuing unacceptably high number of suicides, the Coroner’s latest provisional figures, for the year ending 30 June 2013, show a reduction in the number of deaths by suicide among both young people aged between 15 and 24 years and Māori. The figures also show that suicide deaths in Christchurch have decreased compared to the previous year, back to pre-earthquake levels.

The total number of suicides for the year was 541, which is a decrease of six from last year, and two less than the average number of suicides over the last six years.

Introduction

Remember, if you can, our world in 1995.

Jim Bolger was Prime Minister and Don McKinnon the deputy.

We mourned the loss of Bruno Lawrence, John Britten and former Prime Minister Bill Rowling.

An Ansett plane crashed at Palmerston North, claiming the lives of four people.

The Auckland Warriors entered Australia’s Rugby League competition for the first time.

And the Springboks defeated the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay outlined the benefits of a transformed Inland Revenue today, while announcing the first stage of a programme that will make interacting with Inland Revenue easier and less costly for New Zealanders.

In a speech to business leaders in Wellington, Minister McClay said the Government was committed to making it easier for both people and business to interact with Inland Revenue, which was the aim of a major, long-term transformation programme.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay and Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain say parents registering the birth of their baby can also now apply for their child’s IRD number.

A joint service provided by the Department of Internal Affairs and Inland Revenue means parents can get an IRD number for their new baby by simply ticking a box, and supplying a small amount of extra information, on the Birth Registration form.

A Bill introduced today by Revenue Minister Todd McClay proposes higher repayment obligations for overseas-based borrowers to encourage them to pay off their loans sooner, and tougher measures to deal with borrowers who persistently refuse to make repayments.

Mr McClay said changes proposed in the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No. 3) were a continuation of the Government’s focus on encouraging personal responsibility for loan repayments. 

The Government has sounded a clear warning to distributors and retailers who deliberately, or otherwise, contravene recently enacted psychoactive substance laws.

The 28 day period for submitting licence applications under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 ended this week, with no products or retailers permitted in the market unless they have been granted an interim licence by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay has today written to all local government authorities around New Zealand outlining their powers under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 and has called on them to put in place local rules to control further the sale of 'Legal Highs'.

“The government has made significant steps to regulate the legal high market and it is important that local people also have a say on the availability of synthetic drugs in their communities,” says Mr McClay.

Annual Conference

I’m pleased to be here with you today.

I would like to thank James Austin, CEO of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand for inviting me to your conference. James tells me that this is an educational conference aiming to impart many of the fundamental pieces of information any charitable organisation will need to succeed. I’m glad to hear it.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the signing today of a new double tax agreement between New Zealand and Viet Nam.  The signing took place following official talks in Viet Nam between Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang and New Zealand’s Governor-General, the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, who is currently visiting South East Asia to promote New Zealand interests in the region.

Minister of Revenue, Todd McClay has today released Inland Revenue’s supplementary Briefing to the Incoming Minister (known as the BIM) that outlines the key issues facing the tax system.

Mr McClay said that the tax system was in good shape. The last few years have been particularly difficult for many New Zealanders as the government has dealt with headwinds from the GFC and the significant impact of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Revenue Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the appointment of Carmel Peters to the United Nations' Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.

Carmel Peters is a Policy Manager at Inland Revenue with a primary focus on international tax.

"Appointment to the UN Committee is based entirely on expertise rather than as an official representative for a nation, so this is a well-deserved honour for Ms Peters and a very strong indication of the value that the UN finds in having New Zealand represented on the Committee," says Mr McClay.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay has welcomed today’s turnout against animal testing for psychoactive substances, calling it a good example of people exercising their democratic rights.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Revenue Minister Todd McClay today welcomed the release of an Inland Revenue Department tax policy paper which seeks public feedback on proposals to improve cash flow and remove tax distortions on research and development costs for start-up Kiwi businesses.

A tax policy officials’ consultation paper released today seeks feedback on proposals to clarify the tax rules that apply when a charity is removed from the Department of Internal Affairs’ Charities Register.

Registration as a charity is voluntary but charities that choose to register can qualify for certain tax concessions, including tax-exempt status.  They may also be eligible for greater funding as some donors and funders support only charities that are on the register.

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay and Police Minister Anne Tolley welcomed the enactment today of the Psychoactive Substances Bill. As of midnight, a range of effective prohibitions and penalties for breaches of the new law come into immediate effect. These include:

Associate Health Minister Todd McClay is delighted Parliament has passed the Psychoactive Substances Bill. The bill received overwhelming cross-party support with 119 members voting in favour with one against.

This new law provides effective restrictions on the availability and accessibility of so-called ‘legal highs’ in communities around New Zealand including:

Revenue Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the passage today of a tax bill which increases the integrity of the tax system by ensuring that more people pay the tax they should.

The new legislation, introduced in September 2012 as the Taxation (Livestock Valuation, Assets Expenditure and Remedial Matters) Bill includes as major items:

The ability for  Clinical Pharmacists who have completed the new postgraduate certificate in pharmacist prescribing and who are registered with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand to prescribe certain medicines has been welcomed by Associate Health Minister Mr McClay.

Pharmacists in the UK have been prescribing since 2003, and the feedback from health professionals and patients has been positive. New Zealand is leading the way in Australasia, having implemented pharmacist prescribing before Australia.