Policy

Status

Passage of the Game Animal Council legislation

Passed its 1^st reading, currently with Select Committee. We expect Bill to be passed in 2013

Reinstatement of the Income Sharing Bill

Reinstated on Order Paper and currently awaiting 2^nd Reading

Continued development of the Medicines Strategy for quality use of pharmaceuticals in the health sector, enhancing role of Pharmacists in patient medicines management

Launch and rollout of National Medicines Formulary completed

Greater use of Pharmacists under development with guild, GPs and DHBs

Reduce elective surgery waiting lists by greater use of private hospital capacity

Ongoing moves

Investigate provision of a no-charge annual health check up for over 65’s

Ongoing discussions

No sale of any part of Kiwibank or Radio NZ

This has been agreed and will continue to be honoured

Introduce statutory limits on the sale of public assets to no more than 49% of shareholding to private interests including limits on single entity ownership

This commitment has been honoured. The MoU legislation passed last year explicitly limited sale to 49% and to no more than 10% to a single entity

Maintain at least current Budget (2011) funding to TVNZ and RNZ to ensure they continue to fulfil their public broadcasting roles

In Budget 2012 provision

Support Public Private partnerships for major roading infrastructure developments where these are deemed to be the preferred options regionally and nationally, in particular Transmission Gully highway

Transmission Gully go ahead given and PPPs now in place for other such projects

Put in place the necessary legislative provisions to cease guided helicopter hunting on the conservation estate

Legislation being drawn up and is due to be passed by February 2014

Families Commission reform

Restructured to achieve agreed goals, new Families status report is under development- expected in 2013

Investigate cross agency co-operation for the further development of “Youth one stop shops” for support services

A number of these are now operating

Introduce pre-release assessments for all sentenced prisoners appearing before the Parole Board regarding their alcohol and /or drug dependency

Work is underway to determine the most appropriate use of resources for this work

Maintain free access to rivers, lakes, forests and coastline

UF has remained a stalwart advocate on the many forums that influence this key to our way of life

Produce a Government discussion document on UF Flexi-Super proposal

Currently being developed, will be released in  mid 2013

Government recognises UF’s commitment to improving water quality and agrees UF will be consulted and involved in any initiatives concerning these issues

UF is in close contact with the Government over water quality issues and is particularly committed to the work of the Land and Water forum and the Dairying and Clean Streams accord