Broken promises on GP visits
A‘‘trail of broken promises’’.
The much-loved political standard is a track on repeat with Oppositions throughout history.
Howled across the aisle at the slightest change in direction or policy by the Government, used to highlight a perceived failure to voters, no matter how small.
It’s been a while though, since it had such a tangible example to hinge off.
Health Minister David Clark’s admission that the Government will not be delivering cheaper GP visits in full this year, is a clear breach of an election campaign promise.
A promise so cynically made in the first place. A campaign refresher: National announced a key election plank to cap the cost of GP visits for 600,000 low-income New Zealanders to $18.
It would also expand the community services card to an additional 350,000 people, with low incomes and high housing costs giving them access to $18 GP visits too.
One week later, Labour announces the exact same policy but with a consumer price guarantee to beat National’s offer by an additional $10 and extend it to all of New Zealand.
Turns out, they can’t afford it.not all in one hit like they promised, at any rate.
And it’s a likely bet the Government has pushed it back for phasing in, which at a budgeted cost of $259m a year would give it an extra quarter of a billion to play with.
It’s also a likely scenario that the Government has realised that unless it boosts Vote Health by significantly more than the funding increase track National was on – and DHBS the same – it won’t like the post-budget day headlines.
It’s a sure bet National won’t let the Government forget this one, and it’s got a valid point.
Their policy was released with a $380m price tag over four years, and the prescription it would be met within the 2018 Budget operating allowance, coming into effect July 1 this year.
The political damage of not being able to fulfil the promise will be less than the impression it reinforces that Labour over-promised on its spending, and by extension was frivolous with the cash.
There could, of course, be ways for the Government to target the policy to only low income earners to begin the phase in.
And on July 1, there may not be an widespread change to doctors fees for them to crow about but they will be ramming a number of other things down the throats of voters.
Namely, the Winter Energy Payment, Best Start tax credit and changes to Working for Families tax credits will all come into effect that day.
It might not be surprising – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson did after all, stand up and specifically tell Press Gallery journalists to lower expectations about what might be in the Budget.
And they will of course continue in that vein, only to unveil a few cherries on the day.
There won’t be nothing in the Budget, but the Government will remember the fury that echoed from the floor of Sir Michael Cullen’s Beehive office the day after he delivered his infamous ‘‘chewing gum tax cuts’’ at the Dominion Post Headline. ‘‘Is that it?’’ the paper thundered.
Labour’s problem is they’ve talked a massive game, so a variation on a theme could be in the offing.
Health Minister David Clark’s admission that the Government will not be delivering cheaper GP visits in full this year, is a clear breach of an election campaign promise.