6. Hon PETE HODGSON (Labour—Dunedin North) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
Why did he dismiss the chair of the Otago District Health Board?
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) Link to this
While Mr Richard Thomson was chair of the Otago District Health Board, the single-biggest fraud in the history of the New Zealand State services was taking place; $17 million was defrauded. This is about accountability.
Has the Minister seen the transcript of an interview this morning with the new chair, Mr Millar, who, when asked whether he would have done the same thing as Mr Thomson, said yes, and when asked whether Mr Thomson’s handling of the issue was proper said yes; if so, why is the Otago District Health Board in a better place today than it was before he sacked Mr Thomson?
Yes. I think it needs to be recognised that Mr Millar was commenting in the context of managing ongoing board relationships.
Dr Jackie BlueHas the Minister seen the recent statement made by Mr Hodgson that Mr Ryall only wants to install his own man in the job; if so, whom has he appointed to the role of chair?
I have seen those comments from the former Minister of Health, and I can confirm that I have appointed Mr Errol Millar. Mr Millar was first appointed to the Southland District Health Board in 2002 by Annette King. He was reappointed to the Southland District Health Board in 2004 by Annette King. He was then appointed to the Otago District Health Board in 2007 by David Cunliffe. He was also made the chair of the Airways Corporation in 2001, when appointed by the former Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Mark Burton. Then he was appointed deputy chair of the Civil Aviation Authority in 2007, by the then failed Minister of Transport, Annette King. This matter is not personal, and it is not political.
Has the Minister seen public comment today contrasting the actions of Mr Thomson, who immediately acted on a tip-off of illegal activity, with those of the person who was the responsible Minister 10 years ago when the illegal activities of the “goon squad” in Christchurch were at their height, but who did nothing to stop them and did not resign; and does the phrase “double standards” come to mind?
While Mr Thomson was chair of the Otago District Health Board, the biggest single fraud in the history of the State services in New Zealand was taking place; $17 million was defrauded.
Why did the Minister ignore the result of the October 2007 elections, when Mr Thomson and all five other board members were re-elected by an Otago public that had full knowledge of the fraud case, and might that be why he is now viewed by many people as being prone to misjudgment and prone to arrogance?