Greens announce three pre-budget initiatives

3.25pm

The Greens today announced three initiatives it had negotiated with the Government as part of next week's budget.

These were:

* $535,000 for a programme allowing staff to work at community organisations and the voluntary sector on six-month placements;

* $600,000 over four years for an internet database of research on complementary and alternative health therapies;

* $230,000 to allow the monitoring and evaluation of drug education programmes in schools.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the Greens had got money for other initiatives in the environment, health, biosecurity and arts areas.

Green MP Sue Bradford said the $535,000 would allow 20 voluntary or community organisations to benefit from having a paid intern help their operation for six months.

"This internship programme is designed to give these groups a boost in the work they are able to do and thus further increase their effectiveness."

Ms Bradford said the Te Aronga Hou Trust in Mangere, South Auckland, had an intern for six months last year to carry out research into adult and youth prostitution in the Counties-Manukau area.

The research had helped the trust decide how to better provide for this group.

Health Minister Annette King and Green MP Sue Kedgley said in a joint statement the $600,000 funding over four years would be used to look into the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines.

It would be used to develop an internet database of existing overseas research.

"This funding will ensure that it is widely accessible and that information about the benefits and risks of different complementary therapies is freely available for anyone who is interested," Ms Kedgley said.

Mrs King said the research would be an invaluable tool for the ministerial advisory committee on complementary and alternative health, and for policy makers.

Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harre and Green MP Nandor Tanczos were expected this afternoon to announce the details of how the money for the drug education programme would be spent.

- NZPA

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