Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

National’s child health policy a weak imitation

Hon Annette King
Minister of Health

National’s child health policy a weak imitation

15 September 2005

National’s child health policy released today, just two days before an election, is a weak imitation of policy initiatives announced by Labour last month, says Health Minister Annette King.

“Their first plank is to maintain current primary health care subsidies for children and to improve them ‘over time’. Labour adjusts these subsidies upwards every year, not ‘over time’.

“Their second plank is to ensure all children are funded to receive eight Well Child checks by 2007/08. That is an exact copy of the policy we announced on 23 August. I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Ms King says one of National’s most hollow pledges is to target more than 95 per cent of children completing their immunisations. “This pledge is from the party that wouldn’t set up a National Immunisation Register in the 1990s because they thought it was a waste of money. The only reason we will get 95 per cent is because Labour has set up the register and we are now seeing the results.”

Ms King also says National’s pledge to spend an additional $3.5 million a year supporting the Special Dental Benefits Scheme and an additional $4.5 million on the Adolescent Oral Health Service Agreement “is put in perspective when placed alongside Labour’s far-reaching plan, announced on 31 August, to spend more than $100 million over five years in capital spending alone on a major revamp of oral health services for young New Zealanders.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Their fifth plank is to spend $2 million a year expanding Health Promoting Schools. Labour announced an expansion of more than $6 million a year in March this year with the Cancer Control Action Plan. National doesn’t even mention cancer in its health policy. That shows how serious it is about improving health.

“And finally National says the $100 million extra it is allotting on a one-off basis to high priority surgery will include some money targeted toward children. What a cynical statement. All health funding under Labour is put in on a long-term sustainable basis. National cannot do that and afford to give tax cuts as well.

“How credible can a child health policy be that is released just two days out from an election? The policy is a feeble sham, but none the less cynical for that.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Audrey Young in the NZ Herald has compiled a useful list of the many ways Christopher Luxon plans to roll back the progress made in race relations over the past forty years. He has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.