Wednesday 23 august 2006
"Conflicting government messages over privatisation"
"The government is giving conflicting messages over privatisation in the related areas of accident compensation and
health," said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
"Today in Parliament ACC Minister Ruth Dyson criticised for good reasons the National Party for advocating a return to
the partial privatisation of accident compensation of the 1990s. She expressed her position firmly and with conviction."
"In contrast, Health Minister Pete Hodgson has given the green light for the privatisation of public hospital
laboratories which affect about 60-70% of hospital outcomes. He has already allowed privatisation to proceed in the
Otago and Southland DHBs. Some other ideologically inclined DHBs can't believe their luck and are proceeding to queue
up."
"Being both anti and pro privatisation suggests a high level of government policy incoherence," concluded Mr Powell.
ENDS