Collateral Damage worth the cost?

Let me see if I can get my head around this. The Minister of ACC, the right dishonorable Nick Smith, has decided to can government funded counselling to victims of sexual abuse "until" he hears back from a group of hand selected people on whether the "current system" is working or not. Am I doing okay so far? Right... This hand picked group of people do not seemingly advocate for the rights of sexually abused victims (do correct me if I'm wrong) but I don't see any front-line women's groups or men's groups for that matter being included in this wee round table affair. 

However, let's say, for arguments sake, they are all support the continuation of counselling. 

My question is this, why bother paying these people to come up with the bloody obvious? And more troubling, why waste time because, as we all know, until this round table can make a decision, victims are being turned away and fogged off. Oh I hear you. I know. They're due to report back to Dick, opps, I mean Nick, by July and well, that's only two months away - too late for the mother of three who topped herself but hey, it's collateral damage that, right? 

Okay, so we wait until July. But wait, there's more...if we are suppose to wait back for the Round table decision on the most obvious, then why is there a need for yet another separate round table group, headed by none other than the sympathetic 'woman of all women' - Paula Bennett? We all know how she recently cracked the whip on single parents, telling them to get off their butts and back into work - despite the fact that, oh yeah, she was actually a beneficiary for several years while raising her child. So, yeah, I'm really looking forward to her usual diplomatic approach to dealing with sexual abuse victims...not!

Her recent commission, by Justice Minister Simon Powers, is to "address the most effective way to deliver sexual violence services." Oh fan-bloody-tastic! Nothing quite like getting the right man for the job! So yet again, another tax funded private wee gathering of douche-lords and ladies looking into the painstakingly obvious.

I'm not that "into" politics but this lady scares me. I don't like the idea that she's been allowed to rip up the carpets in Government to see what's been lurking there - you know she's only going to have them replaced with pimpish shag pile and a self portrait gargoyle. If it ain't broke, it don't need fixing, surely! 

Sorry folks, but as the Social Development Minister (a contradiction if ever I heard!) she will" lead a stock-take of existing state spending on sexual violence, look at the need for such services, identify opportunities for efficiencies and effectiveness, and consider " future funding options''.

That shouldn't take long, surely... you know, once she's finished "consulting on the terms of reference for the project with ACC Minister Nick Smith." So, they'll be needing several meetings to discuss the proposed meeting then? Tell me something, do you actually HAVE to have a brain to work in Government?

Oh yeah, forgot to add: Meanwhile back in the jungle, counselling has stopped. Mind the Gap people!