Mr SPEAKER: Question No 3, the hon Annette King.
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: What did he mean
by his statement on 29 July that core Crown health expenditure since 2009/10 covers
“most, but not all, inflationary pressures”?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): I have answered this question many times,
and I mean exactly that—it does cover most but not all inflationary pressures.
The balance is found within baselines by redirecting spend from areas
where it is not delivering results to areas where it is delivering the results
that NZers need and expect.
Hon Annette King: If the DHBs are meeting cost pressures from within their baselines,
why have 13 DHBs exceeded their budget by $8.4 million in August alone?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Actually it is a huge improvement.
The collective DHBs’ deficits are about $50 million at the moment—
a big improvement from the $150 million we inherited from Labour.
So Labour knew how to run a deficit; it did not know how to deliver the services.
Hon Annette King: If DHBs are managing their cost pressures because there is enough funding,
why is the National Health Board meeting with the Lakes, Tairāwhiti, Capital and Coast,
Hutt Valley, and MidCentral DHBs to discuss their financial performance?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Because, unlike Labour, we are not going to let
the deficits blow out.
Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I am answering the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! A point of order has been raised.
Hon Annette King: That was a very straight question; he goes straight
to the Labour Party. Why does he not answer his own questions?
Mr SPEAKER: It was certainly not helpful the way the Minister started,
but it would be helpful if the Minister could answer the question,
and then we will judge the adequacy of the answer.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Because we are not going to let deficits blow out.
We cannot go back to the situation back in 2008 of a $150 million deficit.
I see Mr Robertson saying today that actually he is prepared to run deficits
if he ever becomes the Minister of Finance,
which would be a massive problem for the health system and NZ.
Hon Annette King: If all DHBs’ inflationary pressures are basically being covered,
as the Minister is telling us, why did the figures provided by his office
show a shortfall of $152 million in this financial year?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: As usual, Mrs King is not giving the full picture.
The picture that she is painting is an early Budget document.
The rate of inflation changed considerably from that time,
so she is using out-of-date information, but worse, she knows it.
Hon Simon Bridges: Annette!
Hon Annette King: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Hon Simon Bridges: You shouldn’t do that.
Hon Annette King: Yes, it is Annette; that is right.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! A point of order—the Hon Annette King.
Hon Annette King: I have a written answer to the Minister—not using ministry figures.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Can I have the point of order?
Hon Annette King: The point of order is that I would like to table
the written answer because the Minister disputes my figures.
Mr SPEAKER: The Minister certainly did dispute the figures, but that is a debatable matter.
If it is a published written answer, then it is available to all members anyway.
Hon Annette King: Were the figures supplied by his office correct when they showed
that nine DHBs will need $61.4 million out of their budgets this year
to manage the Government’s shortfall in funding?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: It is a heck of a lot better than their needing $150 million,
and we are determined to make sure that the deficits do not blow out.
If you look at the wider fiscal strategy, we are determined
that DHBs live within their means.
We are not going to do like Grant Robertson is promising,
which is to run deficits to fund heath—a very bad idea.
Hon Annette King: If DHBs are being funded for all their cost pressures,
why have 73% of staff recently surveyed at the Taranaki DHB reported that
in the past 6 months patient care or treatment has been compromised?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I have not seen that survey, but, look,
I would not be surprised if it is not exactly saying what Mrs King is saying it does.
What she is saying in her—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. The Minister will resume his seat.
Hon Annette King: I seek leave to table the said survey
from the Care Capacity Demand Management programme—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will put the leave, but—[Interruption] Order!
I will put the leave, but it is customary, certainly in this House,
to do so at the end of an answer. But I will put the leave,
certainly in view of the circumstances. Leave is sought to table that particular survey—
Hon Annette King: Have a read.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I might, if I have time. Leave is sought to table that
particular survey. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
We just had a situation there where I was asked a question,
I was halfway through my answer, and you allowed Mrs King to table a document—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The Minister will resume his seat.
That is not exactly as it happened at all.
A member has a right to raise a point of order at any stage, but—[Interruption]
Order! If the Minister wishes to stay in the House, he will not interrupt
while I am on my feet. The member has a right to raise a point of order at any stage.
At the time I accept the point of order, I have no idea what that point of order is.
Subsequent to accepting the member having the right to raise a point of order,
she then took the opportunity to seek leave to table a document.
I did point out to her that it is not the custom of the House to interrupt
an answer to do so but, in view of the circumstances,
once the interruption had occurred I allowed the tabling to proceed.
Question—[Interruption] Order!
We do not need further interjections between the two members.
Question No 4, Jono Naylor.
Subtitles by the Amara.org community