Health minister away during strike
Health Minister David Clark was overseas in the days before the nurses’ strike, but insists he wasn’t on holiday.
Thousands of nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives walked off the wards for 24 hours on Thursday morning after failing to reach an agreement on pay and conditions with District Health Boards (DHBs).
Fronting media yesterday – just three hours after the strike ended – Clark confirmed he was ‘‘out of the country’’ for 33 hours this week when asked why he had not fronted publicly on the matter.
Clark told media he had to ‘‘transport his family overseas’’ for a long-standing holiday, but maintains he was in close contact with his parliamentary colleagues during that time.
‘‘I was not on holiday as reported. I had a commitment to take my family overseas to a holiday. I transported them overseas, came straight back,’’ Clark told reporters. ‘‘I had a commitment from many months ago to holiday that I cancelled for myself, but I needed to transport my family there. I cancelled it because I wanted to be here.’’
Clark said Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters had spoken on behalf of the Government this week.
‘‘It’s fair to say that largely this has been an operational matter in terms of DHBs and the nurses.
‘‘Obviously, I’m making comment now I’ve been back.
‘‘It hasn’t been appropriate to make comment during this period.
‘‘The Acting Prime Minister made comment during his regular media appearances as is appropriate. This government takes this matter seriously,’’ Clark said.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges criticised Clark’s decision to leave the country. ‘‘At a time of one of the most serious disruptions in recent memory to healthcare in New Zealand, he’s on holiday and leaving others to deal with the mess. This continues a concerning pattern of behaviour from a Government which is consistently failing to front up,’’ Bridges said.
While DHBs have significantly increased their offer since the National Party was in power, Clark echoed Peters’ claims on Friday that there wasn’t any more money to ‘‘add to nurses’ salaries’’.
‘‘The Government has been clear that there is no money on the table to increase the salary package,’’ he said. The Government had put in extra money but ‘‘our ability to do that has come to an end ... so that is the offer’’.
Clark thanked the DHBs and nurses for putting patient and public safety first during the strike.
‘‘I want to absolutely acknowledge the nurses right to strike.’’
He had seen the recommendations of the Employment Relations Authority but would not be commenting on what the facilitator had put forward.
‘‘Both sides need a chance to reflect on them before they come together. It is time for a pause, it’s time to reflect.’’
‘‘The Acting Prime Minister made comment during his regular media appearances as is appropriate.’’
Health Minister David Clark