New Health Board Appointments a Sop to the Alliance

Wednesday 14th Feb 2001 Ken Shirley Media Release -- Health

ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Ken Shirley has branded the extra health board appointments as a sop to the Alliance. Four of the new members announced were Alliance candidates in past elections.

“It appears that the Alliance Party has taken the Minister to task because initial appointments favoured Labour Party hacks much more than Alliance ones,” Mr Shirley said.

“So now the coalition partner has had its ruffled feathers smoothed with the cosy appointment of a few more Alliance Party mates.

“It is bad enough that the new Health Act turns the clock back 10 years and re-politicises health, but now our worst fears are confirmed with the political appointment of failed party flunkies.

“The losers are the New Zealanders who want good quality health services, not services run by political hangers-on. There is a real danger of services running down if boards are too heavily influence by people whose sole qualification for the position is that they once stood for the Alliance Party somewhere,” Mr Shirley said.

The four former Alliance candidates appointed were Deb Frederikse in Wanganui, Vern Winitana (Hutt Valley), Des Ratima (Wairarapa) and Stephanie de Ruyter (Southland).

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

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