National’s irksome incompetence is inexcusable
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- Date published:
6:05 am, June 5th, 2024 - 11 comments
Categories: budget 2024, Christopher Luxon, election 2023, nicola willis, same old national, Shane Reti -
Tags: broken promises, cancer treatment, lies, Medsafe, pharmac
By breaking its election promise to fund 13 new cancer treatments the members of National Party in the coalition government showed a profound lack of integrity and a distinct lack of commitment to follow through with doing the right thing.
The election promise was made to feel like a personal promise. This is the dual nature of political promises and pledges, they’re both political, at a party level, and personal, aimed directly at people to sway them to give their vote. And nothing is more personal than promising a cancer patient a lifeline. The fact that National made this insensitive calculating promise shows that they simply don’t care about the plight of others but only about garnering votes, directly and indirectly by the persuasive power of their compassion, and getting into power.
National now is hurting from its self-inflicted PR wound that cannot be stitched up and closed easily by their spin doctors. Let’s have a closer look at some of the feeble excuses that National has trotted out so far to cover up its momentous botch-up.
Fiscal cliff
Nicola Willis has discovered that funding for PHARMAC was time-limited, but rather than accepting this as normal government practice and a consequence of her own incompetence, she painted herself as some kind of self-imagined heroine on a rescue mission.
“In this Budget, we had to find $1.8 billion to rescue the funding of medicines that were left unfunded by the outgoing government,” she said. “Pharmac had been given what we call ‘cliff funding’ so it had been short-funded. So, as of June 1 this year, it would have run out of… money for listed medicines.
“So, our first job was to rescue those medicines and in future Budgets, we want to deliver on that commitment for more cancer drugs.”
The same nonsense was also parroted by Dr Shane Reti, undoubtedly singing from the same PR song sheet sticky-note.
Drug registration
National has managed to pull another rabbit out of the hat, some of the cancer drugs still need to be registered, allegedly.
Time is lives for those waiting on the funding. So, when can Kiwis expect it?
“Soon,” Dr Reti said.
“We’re looking to deploy the cancer drugs that we campaigned on. You’ll understand that some of them are still to be registered, so there’s some work to be done. But, we’re anticipating making announcements soon.
I started having a look on the Medsafe website, as this is the agency that’s responsible for new drug registrations in NZ, and it appears that most if not all of the 13 proposed cancer drugs have already been approved by Medsafe. So pull the other one, Dr Reti! In any case, National made its grandiose promise in August last year. So, nobody […] thought it should register those ‘unregistered’ drugs between then and now?? Please tell the plebs which of the drugs still need to be registered. Why not then fund the ones that are registered now? This is pathetic and insults our intelligence.
Whilst there were some issues signalled with funding of the new cancer drugs in the Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Health November 2023, none of it appeared to be related to those drugs still needing to be registered [cf. page 6 of the linked PDF].
Procurement
In my neck of the woods you make sure the funding is agreed, at least in principle, before you start the procurement process. This process is designed to evaluate all relevant available products or services and to ensure best value for money, in this case for all New Zealanders, not just cancer patients, as also cancer specialists emphasise. For (cancer) medicines this jobs falls to PHARMAC. But Chris Luxon puts the cart before the horse and now tries to blame procurement for not funding the 13 new cancer drugs.
However, on Monday, Luxon said it was the procurement process that was holding up the funding.
“It is taking a little bit more time than we wanted,” Luxon said.
Nobody’s buying it! There are too many articles to cite for this, even just today, but fortunately the pennies are dropping. How much time do you need, Mr Luxon? Is one term enough? It should be because that’s all you should be allowed.
Anyhow, how’s the government going to strong-arm PHARMAC into approving those treatments without the usual due process to satisfy political expediency? The Ministry of Health already raised this in the most diplomatic terms possible in December 2023:
Funding additional cancer drugs within Budget 2024 will have some challenges given the existing legislative settings and decision-making framework for the public funding of medicines. There are additional considerations to enable access to the cancer drugs such as from workforce and system capacity limitations. The initial advice will outline the issues and options to mitigate.
By sabotaging the procurement process led by PHARMAC Luxon has all but guaranteed a sub-optimal outcome.
Strong lobbying is highly likely to force National to backflip on its broken promise. Spare a thought for minor interest groups who don’t have a strong lobby voice by way of multiple charities and experts. Is it right and fair that they’re likely to be poorly served if at all? Nevertheless, the pressure from that particular lobby front will go away and fade from most people’s memories, as if nothing happened and no breach of integrity and accountability had ever occurred.
What should remain as a reminder to us is that this coalition government has no credibility to keep its promises, avoids accountability and taking responsibility for its own goals, and is likely to continue damaging our trust by playing on people’s feelings, fears, and emotions, unless or until the people of New Zealand put a stop to it and take back power to the people. Firstly, by making our representatives stick to their promises, and secondly, by telling our MPs what we need, rather than the other way round and them telling us what we want, supposedly. The only way things will change is when we have democracy in action and (pro)active democracy, not this passive lethargic charade, with the occasional reflexive outburst of momentary dissatisfaction and associated outpour of (negative) emotion in social and mainstream media, and this juvenile circus in Parliament and amateur band in the Beehive.
One final observation is that there’s been no blaming of or finger-pointing at its coalition partners by National for its screw-up, as far as I know. This might suggest that all three coalition parties were fine with dropping the election promise and that no hard-fought negotiating battles were at the heart of it. At the same time, though, I haven’t seen any Ministers from the other two coalition parties jump to the defence of National and its diabolically doomed decision. I’m no expert but I’d assume that Cabinet Collective Responsibility would also include Budget.
Cabinet is an intensely collective form of government: ministers discuss policy, consider options and jointly take responsibility for all cabinet decisions. Under the convention of collective responsibility, once cabinet reaches a decision, all ministers must support that decision and defend it in public. This applies whether or not ministers were present when the decision was taken, and regardless of their personal views on its merits. [my italics]
Looks like National is in a hole by itself and should crawl back under its rock.
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Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...3 days ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...3 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...3 days ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...3 days ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...3 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...3 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...3 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...4 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...4 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
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
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
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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
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- District Court Judge appointed
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
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- 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
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- 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
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
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- Health survey results to help drive change
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- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
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- New diplomatic appointments
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
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- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
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I keep wondering:
When a party isn't in government, it is in opposition, with the job of holding the incumbent government to account.
So, where was National, when it was supposed to be the people's watchdog?
How could it have been giving appropriate scrutiny, when it didn't even know which pharmaceuticals were funded and which weren't? And, apparently, that a whole bunch of them weren't registered?
How could they have missed this apparent $1.8 billion hole such that it was a surprise now?
This article is about pharmaceuticals, but the same goes for lots of things the now-government never knew about while in opposition.
Maybe they were busy having long lunches at Bellamy's, which I notice wasn't part of Seymour's drive to save money by scaling back the menu to luncheon-meat sandwiches.
Willis and Reti are just following after Seymour who saved "food in schools" by providing $3 a meal food supplied by a central provider (a day old sandwich wrapped in plastic with a piece of fruit) rather than a locally provided hot meal ($8).
An amount they could afford.
He called the new meal nutritious and delicious. But if there is more waste he will just cancel the programme, another cost saving.
It was National/COC that decided on a minimal allocation of new spending in their model, Labour had more allocated for new spending (thus could renew the school food programme).
Short version ACT required National to speed up restoring the landlord tax break, the party of euthanasia and excel spreadsheets.
Well said Incognito. Thanks.
The beauty of the cancer drugs issue is that the MSM has been full of it for several days with numerous people being interviewed on the radio saying "I voted for them because they promised to do this and now I don't trust them".
It is a discrete issue easily grasped by the voting public and has done incalculable damage to the COC's image, just to save $71m a year. Luxon really has a tin-ear when it comes to politics.
Another problem is that the government doesn't have much talent or ability among its ministers-listen to Mark Mitchell on RadioNZ this morning (link below) saying that there were now 60% more police on the beat in central Auckland since the COC took power. When Corin Dann asked what the original numbers were that the 60% was derived from he had no idea. So it could be 5 police have been increased to 8 for instance.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018941304/police-minister-on-safety-in-auckland-central
Michell complains several times about how unbalanced RadioNZ’s report was. Look out for ministers refusing to be interviewed on RadioNZ.
Reflecting over my (many) years observing politics I have concluded that this government would win hands down the award for the least prepared new government ever to take power in New Zealand.
With most previous governments, whether National or Labour-led there was always a kind of mood in the electorate for change when it happened, but that was positive change. The last election was irrevocably negative in its context and the negativity was calculated by its participants.
You could say: what else could you expect from a coalition of rural conservatives, rich urban yuppies and conspiracy theorists? but the scale is astounding. Even Muldoon, at his worst, couldn't match the driving relentless negativity that has been the hallmark of the CoC so far.
They have talked New Zealand to recession, economically and socially. They have stirred up racial division. They have poured scorn on hard fought environmental improvements in our industries and lifestyles. The country is in a feeble depressed state and so many people seem not to give a f.. about anything. The last time I can remember it being so bad was a year or so before the 1990 elections when we were counting down that days before we could get rid of the Rogernomes.
But that was BEFORE the election, not after.
It is not surprising that survey after survey paints gloomy pictures of our economy. Business confidence continues to be very low, unemployment climbing rapidly. Street crime, far from reducing from the actions of the new government, appears to be becoming worse. We appear to be in the grip of another outbreak of COVID (I am one of the victims as I write this).
Folks, this country is a depressed state and it is in a depressed state because we have a three-headed monster governing us that revels in power whilst disdaining the necessary hard work that comes from being in charge. They are like infants in charge of Rolls Royces, way out of their depths.
Nicely put Mike.
There is always some hope out there. For instance a former adviser to Tony Bliar now says a Wealth Tax is imperative.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/01/starmer-must-introduce-wealth-tax-after-labour-wins-election-top-blair-aide-says
Indeed, it has received a lot of attention in MSM, and rightfully so, but you can already see it disappearing from focus; when you flog a horse (too) many times, it dies.
Today (I wrote the OP yesterday), there are still a few notable mentions in MSM.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350298087/nz-politics-live-police-minister-wants-remove-three-strikes-policy-boy-racers [odd link, I know]
The Spinoff has an informative article on how the debacle (for and by National) unfolded.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-06-2024/the-full-timeline-of-nationals-broken-cancer-drugs-promise
Even the NZ Herald still pays some attention to National’s Cancergate.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/budget-2024-finance-minister-nicola-willis-defends-housing-and-public-sector-cuts-as-cancer-drugs-issue-dogs-government/S2GFUNNZNVC3PFKWUOXVVWKTXA/
Tim Murphy over at Newsroom sums it up very nicely. And I fully expect Newsroom to keep a close eye on developments and follow up as/when required.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/06/05/a-stage-3-case-of-political-opportunism/
Incog-that Murphy summary article is excellent as you say.
This is over promising and not delivering at all. The people who will benefit from the 13 drugs and their friends and relations are of course livid. But such a stupid and obvious broken promise has annoyed the masses.
As Murphy says, even the 13 drugs list is now in doubt because it is 3 years old and cancer treatment is moving rapidly. Chaos really. Luxon should have given more money to Pharmac and left it to them as experts. But Luxon hates the Labour instigated Pharmac of course.
Chewie and Pat of Big Hairy News discuss this issue. From 50 min onwards in their youtube show last night.
To use a term from crypto – this lot are bloody good at the rug pull.