All The King's Men

Sunday 22 Aug 2004
Heather Roy
Press Releases -- Health

ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today warned candidates, standing for the upcoming District Health Board elections, of the surprise awaiting those elected - that their role will be to serve Health Minister Annette King, not the people who voted for them.

"While I'm pleased that so many civic-minded Kiwis are putting their names forward for election, I am worried that many will quickly discover that their role is not what they bargained for," Mrs Roy said.

"Ms King admitted in Parliament that the main task of the seven elected and four appointed members of each of the 21 DHBs around New Zealand is to implement Labour's health policies.

"This makes a mockery of the so-called democratic elections undertaken at great expense to the taxpayer.

"Most of those standing for DHBs are under the mistaken impression they will represent the voters, while voters are under the mistaken impression that they're voting for the people they think will best represent their health interests.

"The truth of the matter is this: what is expected of DHB members is different from their democratic mandate - thus leaving them in a constitutional `No Man's Land'.

"The Minister should be honest and make it clear that DHB members are her servants. Instead, she tricks voters with a democratic process, then imposes central control of a health system she promotes under the guise of regional responsibility," Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media