1. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she have confidence in the Minister of Health; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes; because he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister.
Does she believe that the Minister of Health exercised the appropriate level of oversight when the Auckland district health boards negotiated the contract for pathology services with Labtests Auckland; if so, does she therefore think that sole responsibility for any alleged wrongdoing could rest only with those who, in fact, signed the contract, in particular Wayne Brown and Ross Keenan?
Does she agreed with the Minister of Health that the appropriate time for the Government to determine accountability of this mess was after the interim contract was signed with Diagnostic Medlab last week, in which case will she today express confidence or otherwise in Wayne Brown and Ross Keenan?
Why does she still have confidence in a Minister of Health who did not act against Government-appointed officials who signed a contract with someone who was—to use her words—“duplicitous” and had “a blatant conflict of interest”, but now wants to act against the same officials or the same individuals before the Crown can even determine whether an appeal will be lodged?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Because the extent of that Tory friend’s duplicity has only become visible with the court judgment.
Has it not dawned on the Prime Minister that by delaying any statement of confidence in the Auckland district health boards until after the appeal process has played out, she is practically inviting those directors to lodge an appeal in order to save their jobs for at least a year, if not more?
Has she, as Prime Minister, or has her Minister of Health, sought or received legal advice on sacking the directors of the Auckland district health boards?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
That is premature. Obviously, the Government proceeds carefully. There is an appeal period yet to expire. What is being explored is the full range of options; and the full range, of course, goes from expressing confidence, to people going.
If the conflict of interest that Dr Bierre had was “blatantly obvious”, as she said last week, why does she need to wait any longer before she expresses confidence or otherwise in those who signed the flawed contract with Dr Bierre?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I would have thought it was blatantly obvious, which is why I am rather well disposed towards the court judgment, but I am aware there is an appeal period yet to expire.