All talk no delivery

Stuff reports:

The Government is set to spend far less than it promised on mental health initiatives in its 2019 Budget.

A flagship new frontline mental health service intended to keep mild and moderate patients away from hospitals had only seen $67.4 million by March – less than half the $145.3m it was due to cost by July. …

National’s mental health spokesman, Matt Doocey, who uncovered the funding situation using a written parliamentary question, said the Government was good at making announcements but bad at actually delivering on them.

This cuts to the heart of it.

Announcing funding decisions is easy. Any semi-competent person can do it.

Riding your agencies hard to make sure they deliver is difficult. It requires cunning, tenacity and experience.