Hon Tony Ryall
National Party Health Spokesman

Clark looking stupid on aged care

Helen Clark is making herself look stupid with her attack on the aged-care sector, says National’s Health spokesman, Tony Ryall.

He is commenting on the Prime Minister’s claims that rest home operators are reporting huge profits and so can afford to pay their staff more.

"Helen Clark is showing her business naivety yet again. The companies reporting profits are making those profits from their extensive retirement village interests not their rest home operations,” says Mr Ryall.

"In fact, most rest homes in New Zealand are family-owned small businesses. These small businesses caring for our most vulnerable old people are under significant financial pressure.

"The Government’s latest offer to rest home operators will undermine them at a time when we need more investment and more beds. Some estimates suggest we need a further 9,000 aged-care beds over the next five years.

“If Helen Clark wants to squeeze out family businesses for multi-nationals then she's going about it the right way.

"The Government has made plenty of promises, only to break them. Promises of travel allowances – nothing. Promises of extra for the nurses’ pay round – nothing. Promises for inflation – nothing.

"Helen Clark makes herself look stupid by portraying retirement villages as rest homes. She also insults hundreds of family-owned businesses.

"She should leave the business commentary to people who know something about it,” says Mr Ryall.

ENDS

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