2. 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?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes, because he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister.
Is the Prime Minister satisfied with the departmental inquiry set up by Pete Hodgson into serious allegations of conflict of interest by a board member at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and what confidence does she have that the inquiry will reach any conclusions, given that the last inquiry set up by her Government was headed by Noel Ingram QC and concerned former Minister Taito Phillip Field?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Government has confidence in the form of the inquiry. The inquiry should be left to arrive at its conclusions. Unlike members opposite, we are not jumping to those conclusions.
Is not this inquiry set up by Pete Hodgson just a sham as, after all, it is headed by a Government-appointed district health board member, it will not report its findings directly to the Minister, and, contrary to the answer the Acting Prime Minister just gave, Pete Hodgson has actually prejudged the outcome, saying: “I must say, I don’t expect to find anything.”?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It is up to the inquiry, which is very broadly based. I am sure the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board will welcome such a broadly based inquiry, which will enable it to look at a range of matters.
Has the Prime Minister asked her former Minister of Health Annette King why she appointed Peter Hausmann to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and why she fast tracked the process despite the enormous conflicts of interest that she was aware of, and what was her explanation for appointing him?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have no information in front of me as to whether the Prime Minister did discuss that matter with Annette King, either at the time or subsequently. Mr Hausmann, of course, is now the subject, in part, of this inquiry into conflicts of interest. That is what the inquiry is about.
Is the Prime Minister concerned at the treatment of the whistleblower who subsequently lost her job after raising concerns at the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
All these matters can be considered by the inquiry. We shall await the inquiry on those matters.
If there is nothing to this whole saga, why did the acting CEO tell the whistleblower: “This is very, very serious. It’s at ministerial level. We need to de-escalate the situation.”, and why does the Prime Minister miraculously think that when the restructuring took place in the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, the only person to lose her job was the whistleblower?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Any communication of that sort between the acting CEO and any person is obviously part of the inquiry. I am not going to prejudge that inquiry.
If the Prime Minister was taking this whole matter seriously, why would she not have asked Annette King why she fast tracked the process, and why she appointed someone when there was a clear conflict of interest, or does the Prime Minister not care about that, just in the same way the Prime Minister does not care about the whistleblower who has lost her job for doing her job?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I did not say that the Prime Minister did not talk to Mrs King. I said I have no information as to whether that conversation occurred.
Judy TurnerIs the Prime Minister aware of whether the proposed New Zealand regulator for complementary medicines will operate on a full cost-recovery basis; if so, is she concerned that this will drive smaller producers out of existence, given that those currently exporting to Australia and meeting the Australian regulations are likely to be exempt from the New Zealand regulations, leaving the burden of cost to the smaller producers?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
One thing is clear. If New Zealand has to set up its own entirely separate regulatory authority for alternative medicines, it will probably cost alternative medicines providers more, and it will not give alternative medicines providers access into the Australian market. If they wish to have that access, they will have to go through Australian regulatory procedures as well. This is a remarkable achievement of combined stupidity, led by Mr Tony Ryall.
Hon Pete HodgsonCan the Prime Minister confirm that Mr Hausmann’s appointment to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board in June 2005 met all statutory rules and guidelines in their entirety, that Mr Hausmann’s conflict of interest was openly declared from the outset, and that nothing unusual exists about Mr Hausmann’s appointment to the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That is the advice I have had. Indeed, my understanding is that Mr Hausmann absented himself from the board in relation to the community services contract.