MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
MONDAY 9 APRIL 2001

“TARANAKI HEALTH BOSSES GIVE HEALTH MINISTER THE FINGERS; PROMISING AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE FUTURE”

“Health bosses at the Taranaki District Health Board have given Health Minister Annette King the fingers over their privatisation of anaesthetic services,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Mr Powell was referred to the article in the Taranaki Daily News today.

“While Mrs King states that she only approved it reluctantly believing she had no option, her own appointee as board chairperson Hayden Wano is openly glorifying the privatisation claiming it is the best thing since sliced bread. And yet he knows that the Minister is highly embarrassed in a government openly opposed to privatisation.”

“Mrs King has also instructed that this privatisation is one-off and not to set a precedent. But Taranaki DHB chief executive John O’Neill is defiantly suggesting that there should be more privatisation around the corner.”

“This fetish of both health bosses to give the Health Minister the fingers suggests that they would have budding careers as Australian rugby league players. They certainly know how to make it hurt.”

“John Cleese or Rowan Atkinson could write a wonderful comedy out of this farce,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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