Key Takeaways
- Mike King, a mental health advocate, has accused Labour MP Ingrid Leary of being "obsessed" with making cuts to his charity, I Am Hope.
- The Auditor-General has found that the government contract for Gumboot Friday, a mental health programme run by I Am Hope, is being managed properly.
- Ms Leary has pushed for an investigation into the contract, citing concerns about value for money and transparency.
- The contract is worth $24 million over four years and provides access to free mental health counselling services for over 15,000 young people.
- Mr King and Ms Leary have engaged in a public dispute over the issue, with Mr King accusing Ms Leary of "cherry-picking" elements of the Auditor-General’s report.
Introduction to the Dispute
The dispute between Mike King and Ingrid Leary began when Ms Leary pushed for an investigation into the government contract for Gumboot Friday, a mental health programme run by I Am Hope. The investigation was sparked by concerns about the procurement process and the value for money provided by the contract. The Auditor-General’s report has now been released, and it found that the contract is being managed properly and in line with good practice. However, Ms Leary has stated that she will continue to scrutinize the contract and require transparency, citing concerns about the lack of process in the procurement and the complex contracting arrangements.
The Auditor-General’s Report
The Auditor-General’s report was released in response to Ms Leary’s push for an investigation. The report found that the ministry’s handling of the contract was sound, and that the contract is being managed properly. Mr King has welcomed the report, stating that it "makes it crystal clear" that I Am Hope and the Gumboot Friday contract are being managed properly. However, Ms Leary has said that Mr King has "cherry-picked" elements of the report, and that people should read the report themselves and form their own opinions. She has also stated that her concerns are not about Mr King or I Am Hope, but about holding the government to account for their funding choices.
The Contract and Its Value
The contract for Gumboot Friday is worth $24 million over four years and provides access to free mental health counselling services for over 15,000 young people. Mr King has stated that the contract is providing valuable services to young people, and that Ms Leary’s calls for funding to be withdrawn would punish the young people who rely on the services. However, Ms Leary has said that her concerns are about the value for money provided by the contract, and that she has been careful to level her focus at the government and its procurement process. She has also stated that there are unanswered questions about the salaries of I Am Hope members, which are out of step with the sector.
The Public Dispute
The dispute between Mr King and Ms Leary has been played out in public, with both parties making statements on social media and in the media. Mr King has accused Ms Leary of being "obsessed" with the idea of withdrawing funding for Gumboot Friday, and has said that she does not understand the contract. Ms Leary has said that Mr King has "cherry-picked" elements of the Auditor-General’s report, and that she will continue to scrutinize the contract and require transparency. The dispute has also seen Mr King urge Ms Leary to return to South Dunedin and represent the people who elected her, rather than focusing on scoring points off his name.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The dispute between Mr King and Ms Leary is likely to continue, with both parties dug in and committed to their positions. The Auditor-General’s report has provided some clarity on the contract, but it has not resolved the underlying issues. Ms Leary has stated that she will continue to scrutinize the contract and require transparency, and it is likely that she will continue to push for answers to her questions about the value for money provided by the contract. Mr King, on the other hand, has welcomed the report and has stated that it vindicates the work of I Am Hope and the Gumboot Friday programme. Ultimately, the outcome of the dispute will depend on the actions of the government and the opposition, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
