Luxon is accused of spreading “disinformation”
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10:47 am, August 1st, 2024 - 21 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, health, national, national/act government, nicola willis, Shane Reti -
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Excerpt cross posted from Mountain Tui‘s substack post.
The curious case of Health NZ versus the National Party continues as a former Board member accuses the government of spreading intentional “disinformation.”
Let’s do a quick recap of how we got here –
- On 16 July, there was a sudden and unexpected departure of two more Health NZ Board members. And as I outlined on that day, there were already clear signs National-ACT-NZ First had been systematically dismantling our health system capacity, and investments.
- On the 19 July , only 2 of 7 Board members remained. Labour’s Verrall said the “near clear-out” was linked to the level of funding provided by the Government being insufficient to address the health system. She noted: “My suspicion is that the departing board members know that too.” One of the members who left was an ex-National MP Amy Adams who left this message on her Facebook page on her last day –
- On the 22 July, after Luxon and Reti’s announcement of a “miraculously” appearing Heath NZ deficit, I wrote it seemed more likely it was related to “salaries, staffing, elective surgeries, backpay owed etc.”
- As of 26 July, more was revealed from different reporters and outlets, including the all important element that a successful nursing drive led to nurses’ salaries being higher than expected.
- It’s also been proven that there are NOT 14 layers of management in Health NZ
Well where are we now?
It seems likely that the news reports are all accurate. Successfully recruiting more nurses contributed to a bulk of the balance.
If you watch his press conferences, Luxon frequently boasts about how many nurses have been hired in the last 12 months. The other elements of backpay, pay equity etc. apply too.
Apparently, in trying to meet the big five health goals that Reti established earlier in the year (ED wait times, vaccinations, cancer treatment, shorter elective surgery waits, first appointment to see a specialist,) they asked the Board to focus on that, and as a result, more practitioners were hired.
The CEO spoke about this in the last weeks, i.e. Health NZ was able to successfully reduce nursing shortages from double digits to about 6%.
In any other world, this would be good news. But in our new National-ACT-NZ First Coalition government’s mind, it was deaf maddingly bad, leading to a “blowout” from their underfunding.
And let me tell you, it’s a real inconvenience when your remit is health and that involves having to hire more frontline staff.
Yesterday, a Health NZ ex-Board member accused the Prime Minister of spreading “disinformation”. This clip below shows how it went down, but RNZ essentially reports that Luxon sidestepped responding to Walker’s comments, when asked.
Unfortunately, what the PM and his Health Minister have said just doesn’t match up.
A clear and present pattern of misrepresentation is starting to emerge
There now appears to be a clear pattern by the Luxon government of misrepresenting Boards and their communications:
1/ Some of you may remember it happened to the Kāinga Ora board, whose response was buried by Chris Bishop, before Newsroom reported on it after the fact. Under the terms of his KO review agreement, Bill English and his team was allocated ~$500,000 from the emergency housing fund to write a report that correlated to the Government’s opinions, and with the specification English didn’t even need to involve KO.
That directive was confirmed by a frustrated Board who pointed out innumerable errors in English’s findings and that he appeared to hardly even engage with them. Naturally, no action was taken, and the headlines won the day for Luxon and Bishop.
2/ It also happened to Kiwirail. Last year, Nicola Willis did the media rounds claiming Kiwirail was effectively un-judicious in trying to buy Ferraris when we only needed a Toyota or few. She directed the Board to go look for second hand ferries.
But the Select Committee and subsequent reporting revealed significant details such as that Kiwirail had procured ferries that were rail enabled, future proof and fit for purpose for the Strait and at a 40% less than market price cost. The price and specifications were excellent and most of the blowout was related to the need for seismic upgrades for the Wellington side port.
The new ferries would have accommodated 40 rail wagons, 3000 lane metres for vehicles, and 1800 passengers accommodating the projected volume increases across the Strait. There will be a penalty in the order of $300mn, on top of the ~$500mn loss already incurred from cancelling it, not to mention the inflation when we do have to buy.
3. It’s now happening to Health NZ as we speak. And while ferries and KO builds might be mostly out of sight and out of mind to Kiwis, our health system isn’t. And our doctors and nurses are valued and their voice ultimately does matter.
Governments that routinely lie to the public aren’t the type that Kiwis deserve.
And the Directors of those organisations also don’t deserve to be set up and unfairly maligned either.
I think most of us expect better standards of integrity in those who sit in government.
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Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...5 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...6 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
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- Urgent wake-up call on climate
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- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
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Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...1 day ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...1 day ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...1 day ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...1 day ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...1 day ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...1 day ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...2 days ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...2 days ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...2 days ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...2 days ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...2 days ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...2 days ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
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- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...2 days ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
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- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...2 days ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...3 days ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...3 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...3 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...3 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...3 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...3 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...4 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...4 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...4 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...4 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...4 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...4 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...4 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...4 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...4 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...5 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...5 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...5 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...5 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...5 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...5 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
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Gordon was meant to be with him on that hike. It wasn’t high mountain stuff, but it was rugged, and it’s always sensible to have a companion when that far into the back country. They’d planned to do it in two days and knew each other’s capabilities. But Gordon got ...15 hours ago
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Labour better wake up here. There’s signs they’re starting too.
It’s clear what we are dealing with here is not an incrementalist government or even one that agrees remotely with the rules of government or our society.
We’ve seen this week that they’re happy to bullshit us to our face about the health services, while they funnel hundreds of millions into tobacco tax cuts and a ministry to investigate waste.
As Mountain Tui has catalogued their manufacturing crises left, right and centre and destroying institutions and infrastructure as they go.
This is a blitzreig government similar to the Lange/Douglas one. That government faced internal qualms eventually. This one is filled with people who’ve never had a qualm about anything. The plan is clearly to turn functional departments into basket cases and privatise them quickly.
If they go further and faster than their manifesto, it’ll be done before we mobilise opposition. And they probably figure they can’t be fought on all fronts- the media and public will grow tired of an oppositional narrative.
But they must be opposed. Effectively and soon.
Labour’s attacks on the tobacco partnership in the government and their health lies is a start.
Is it possible that this cruel and vile coalition realises they will very likely be a one term government? And is this why they are moving as quickly as possible to implement their agenda and ideology – run down/sell off/reverse positive changes of the past couple of decades/weaken the country's treaty foundations etc?
Is this why they don't care about alienating significant sectors of our society, such as health?
I don't think they are stupid. Corrupt, cruel, racist, incompetent, arrogant, and out of their depth, yes. But I think they know what they are doing, and they just don't care.
"But they must be opposed. Effectively and soon." Yes, but are significant numbers of us going numb or focusing on just trying to get by and is it already too late?
At times I’ve heard people talking about a tipping point when people will mobilise against them, but it never seems to arrive.
Agreed, they know exactly what they're doing.
Aside from all the social media schtick and online ads their backers funded to get elected probably comes a run sheet, talking points, strategies etc to get the job done once in.
Those moves on tobacco being a case in point and wonder how Reti gets viewed by his fellow health professionals now.
No, I don’t think people are going numb.
I’m not an expert, but I am a citizen and I am angry. This is a foreign takeover. We are not instinctively a small government country. We look to the government, not the waffle house when trouble comes.
The lies here are outrageous. I agree Dr Verral has performed well so far. But across the board this American middle management cynicism and tobacco PR strategy of lies, misdirection and confusion needs to be met with the NZ way.
I’m not sure if Hipkins can sell that, but perhaps he can be the Principal in the office and wheel out a bunch of DPs and APs to sell an optimistic plan.
The Greens need to sort their shit, frankly. It’s all about them. If they are sincere in their cause get back to service. Tana is worse than Kopu frankly, but politically it’s a leadweight on their attack.
This government don’t know what they’re doing- they know what they want to do. If they face concerted opposition they panic and flap and fail. Time to be clear and get stuck in.
HOW, do people mobilise against them?
There lies the problem.
The majority of NZers don't know how and no one is taking the lead.
Join a union.
Or donate to a union.
Seems like an inadequate answer, but being united is the a big part of the solution.
I think that the tipping point will be when the member for Epsom takes over from the NZF list member
Look I'm no fan boy of the labour party, but the reality is Dr Ayesha Verrall is a bloody fine MP doing a bang up job. As the spokesperson on health for the labour party, she has front footed a response to this bullshit from day one.
A couple of press releases.
https://www.labour.org.nz/news-4_500_jobs_lost_and_counting
https://www.labour.org.nz/waitlists_up_and_workforce_down_under_national
Or if you'd prefer video
The failures of the press are not the failures of the labour party, nor it's response.
Oh yes! Here’s Verrall’s question to Reti in the house I posted in a previous thread:
She asked: “Does his private health insurance cover injuries sustained while being thrown under the bus by the prime minister?”
Wow. Stunner. More please. It’s time to get angry and stop as much of this crap now as possible and promise to reverse the crony laws for their friends’ personal ventures after the next election, if they can’t be stopped.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350360916/trade-minister-hot-water-after-shouting-youre-not-mexico-now
What Deficit? – Reti is full of shit. He knew the books before he came in, and it's been 9 months, and he's been in opposition for 6 years, is he really such a lazy bastard to not keep up with the books? There were no surprise for the Tory idiot.
Ultimately my response is that Reti is a traitorous bastard to all the descendants of the 28th Battalion. What descendant wants people to enter poverty over a 5000 dollar health bill? Apart from Shane? I mean if Shane loves that model so much – why not emigrate to the USA and do us all a favour?
Because, the only high of private health insurance for the working class, was purdue pharma.
Didn't previously know BHN Adam so thanks for the link. Always interesting to hear real people explaining realities which strip certain MPs from hiding behind the curtain curtain of lies and misinformation. I have bookmarked the site.
These vandals are destroying public health before our eyes–time for direct action–and I mean that in all senses, not just health sector unions.
A fighting class left approach from the NZCTU involving members, non members, families and community organising. Protest action should ideally be taken against the Natzos, ACT and NZ First MPs and industrial action on their supporting companies, not long suffering patients in the queue.
Even the dimmest CoC voting munter will need medical care (hopefully for a gall stone the size of a golf ball), so it is a universal issue.
Perhaps the Government should employ more State servants and contractors to enable effective management and advice.
Another symptom are Seymour's elitist private charter schools.
On RadioNZ yesterday there seemed to be massive, well argued opposition to them before (what I assume was) the select committee, yet there is no doubt they will be ruthlessly implemented.
Does Winston really support them? I doubt it. Surely it is time for NZF to show a little backbone-they have the swing votes to make a difference and stop some of these things becoming law.
Yup sponging off the taxpayers is a very ACT way of doing business.
What about the reports, albeit anecdotal but verified by close associates, of nurses in the last few days being accepted for jobs but 12 minutes later having the position removed, shit like this is happening all the time , but medical staff are under threat of termination if going to the press.
The conviction and sentencing to come in 2026.
A comment to Ayesha Verrall:
I think Shane Reti has a point when he includes patients as a management layer in the health system.
As we've seen from Dargaville, trends in the health system now mean that patients face self-treatment when attending the emergency clinics.
The corollary of this is could be ER departments where patients use the tools available to self-treat their conditions.
Under those circumstances, I think it would be entirely fair to include them as part of the treatment team.
You are kidding of course?
A layer is being removed here.
Doctors at Hutt Hospital are being asked to make beds and clean medical equipment, on top of a busy patient workload.
An email sent to all ED staff and seen by RNZ lays out which cleaning tasks are expected of clinical staff, and which are to be done by cleaners.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/523906/hutt-hospital-doctors-told-to-make-beds-clean-sinks#:~:text=Doctors%20at%20Hutt%20Hospital%20are,to%20be%20done%20by%20cleaners.
To say that Luxon is spreading disinformation is not news, it's axiomatic. What lies behind his inane parroting of slogans is the neoclassical economics he most likely swallowed wholesale and uncritically in business school 30 odd years ago – and which in itself is a form of disinformation.