No, not that one. “Austerity.”
After the last election, many of us expected and voted for a tightening of the government’s budget, but the promise was that front-line services would not be affected.
However, we are now seeing a hiring freeze in the health sector, leading to doctors and nurses seeking work overseas at a time when the health system is already struggling with staffing shortages.
Additionally, there are significant cuts to social services that support some of our most vulnerable families.
It is not uncommon for right-wing governments to make initial cuts to see if services can still be provided, and then continue cutting until it becomes detrimental.
Unfortunately, the groups that bear the brunt of these cuts are never the top 20%.
Attempting to save money by cutting funding to the not-for-profit sector is a shortsighted decision. Many of the services provided by these organizations are preventative measures that ultimately save costs in the long run.
NGOs often target hard-to-reach populations, improving access to services and enhancing health and welfare outcomes.
Unlike government services, NGOs operate with fewer administrative costs and more flexibility to address emerging issues promptly.
During the Covid pandemic, NGOs demonstrated their ability to respond quickly and effectively to community needs.
By slashing funding to the not-for-profit sector, the government is jeopardizing valuable services provided by qualified and experienced workers.
These organizations work tirelessly with vulnerable families, offering prevention and intervention services that Oranga Tamariki alone cannot provide.
The government’s underfunding of health and social services is causing harm to the most vulnerable members of our society.
Perhaps the government would pay more attention to these organizations if they were driven by profit rather than community impact.
These cuts will result in less effective services, a loss of skilled staff, and potentially lead to increased social issues that may ultimately cost more to address through expensive prison systems.
— Dr Anaru Eketone is an associate professor in the University of Otago’s social and community work programme.
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