The hot topic of debate during the weekend has been the Hawkes Bay DHB debacle and frankly, so it should have been.
It is my view that much of the discussion is totally misguided. Time and time again I am hearing both sides of the argument regarding the competency of the board and frankly we – the humble taxpayers – are not in possession of sufficient facts to enter that argument.
The discussion should be centred aroutchend the high handed, arrogant actions of an appallingly egotistical Minister of Health.
Did he act in a reasonable and informed manner – of course he did not. His actions thrust a dagger into the very heart of democracy.
How dare this fellow Cunliffe, call into question the integrity of our elected DHB members. How would you feel if you had been newly elected in October – had attended only one board meeting – and were then sacked by the Minister on the basis of a lack of integrity.
Surely if Cunliffe had a problem with the way the Hawkes Bay DHB was discharging its duties, the reasonable thing to do would have been to summon Kevin Atkinson to the Beehive and discuss the problem. No such meeting was ever arranged – in fact it is my understanding the two have never met and Cunliffe never returned repeated calls from Atkinson.
It is clear the trio of Labour Government patsies in this saga, have had ample access to the Minister. If Clarke, Lind and Hausmann can be heard, why not Kevin Atkinson and the board.
And speaking of Hausmann – the report on his apparent conflict of interest is a real can of worms.
Clearly Hausmann and his mates at the Health Ministry did not like the draft report because they have taken legal action to prevent the publication of that draft. The fact that the DHB sought legal action to delay the publication of the final report suggests the board members were unhappy with changes to the draft. What are the changes to the draft – who made them and why were they made. Surely, in the interests of transparency, both the draft and the final report should be published.
One thing is for sure – Mr Cunliffe’s action – supported by his Prime Minister – is another hammer blow to Labours election chances in November.
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