National commits to social investment

In a speech yesterday, Nicola WIllis committed National to the social investment approach pioneered by Bill English.

At its core social investment is about data and science. It is about identifying the risk factors for vulnerable families, and spending money on interventions that will work. It is about spending more money now, to help turn lives about.

It is basically the opposite of what Labour does. Labour just throws money at an issue with no idea about whether it will actually work, and in many cases it doesn’t. Just look at housing waitlists, ED waiting times etc etc.

Nicola said:

The growing gap between spend and impact has eroded trust in Government programmes, and made many cynical about funding another set of political good intentions.  

There’s an unwillingness to throw good money after bad, or to lock in yet more state dependency when self-determination, mana motuhake, is what we want for each other.

New Zealanders are thirsty for a better way. 

National’s Social Investment Approach is the better way New Zealand needs to deliver for people with the greatest needs.

Intuitively, there is great appeal in the basic idea underpinning social investment – that if only we intervene earlier and more effectively for our most at risk citizens then their lives could be so much better. 

And an example:

Let me share a story of what can be achieved when we get it right.

At a recent press conference the Prime Minister highlighted research showing positive social impact from the Healthy Homes programme.  The programme was started in 2013 by the former National Government to help deliver on its goal to reduce rates of rheumatic fever in children.

Families in the programme were referred by health authorities and assisted by community-based co-ordinators to insulate, warm and dry their homes, or where that wasn’t possible to find more suitable housing.  Healthy Homes was so successful in reducing disease and hospitalisations that the Government expanded it in 2016 to a larger group of families.

A full data-led evaluation of the programme showed children of families in the programme had far fewer visits to hospital emergency rooms, their attendance at school increased, and overall their parents were receiving fewer Government benefits. The return on investment was clear and measurable: For every dollar the Government invested in the programme it reaped more than $3 in savings, with more savings expected to accrue over time.

What a success story. 

Basically social investment is about accountability for improving outcomes, not just good intentions.

National will set a small number of Better Public Service Targets to focus Government activity and effort towards measurable goals. They will be transparently and publicly reported against with Ministers held accountable for progress towards them.  

Excellent. It was abhorrent that Labour abolished them, They seem to hate accountability.