Goodhew Jo: Official Information (Openness of District Health Boards New Zealand) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Goodhew Jo: Official Information (Openness of District Health Boards New Zealand) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:641;Page:11198] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Aoraki) 
: 
 I rise to take a short call on the Official Information (Openness of District Health Boards New Zealand) Amendment Bill and I do so in the knowledge that many members of the House tonight have joined with me to congratulate Dr Jackie Blue. When one comes into Parliament as a new MP one hopes to achieve some change and that is truly what Dr Jackie Blue has done with this bill—and quickly and easily. We heard the Minister of Health himself say that the Government has agreed with the intention of the bill. We know that the Governor-General has signed an Order in Council to amend schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act to ensure that District Health Boards New Zealand is subject to the complaints jurisdiction of the Ombudsman from 3 September 2007. That is a victory and an example of a member of Parliament getting things done and making things better. 
Therefore it was quite surprising to hear one of the members opposite Sue Moroney speak as if she was against this bill and did not agree with the intention of the bill. It made me wonder whether in fact she was speaking as a member of the Government team. She is maybe a little bit confused. When that member talked about “openness” and accused the National Party of all manner of dreadful things it occurred to me that openness is perhaps something she should reflect on very closely. 
Let me tell members that not so long ago the Labour women’s caucus visited my electorate of Aoraki and spoke with a number of people there. The newspaper recorded those members’ views on how the health system was being dealt with in South Canterbury etc. Among the themes discussed behind closed doors was one that I am not sure all of the Government or even the Minister is aware of. It is my understanding—and it has been reported to me by more than one person—that Sue Moroney believes there is no need to have the South Canterbury District Health Board. 
 Let me tell members that that went down like the proverbial lead balloon. However the “openness” of that member did not extend to her discussing it with the  
Timaru Herald 
 reporter. That is unfortunate perhaps because it certainly would have helped my cause in getting re-elected next time. Her view certainly would not be something the local people would be happy about. That is not my agenda but it most certainly may be the Labour Government’s agenda. It would be interesting for the Minister to take a call and answer that question. 
The Official Information (Openness of District Health Boards New Zealand) Amendment Bill is in the interests of the public. The public deserves access to that information. It deserves the knowledge that that organisation is accountable and has transparency and openness. I wonder whether the reason that both the Auckland District Health Board and the Canterbury District Health Board have left District Health Boards New Zealand in recent times—I have not seen it written down anywhere; they have not told me this but I just wonder—is in part because there is no place to hide any more so why bother with it. They are both very big district health boards and perhaps for that reason they can do without the purposes of District Health Boards New Zealand. I want to touch on those purposes because it will underline the reasons why it is so important that District Health Boards New Zealand is transparent is accountable and shows openness. 
In the 2005-06 year there were six areas for specific portfolio development within District Health Boards New Zealand. They were really important areas. In the area of primary health the purposes were to continue implementation and build capability. In the area of sector productivity and value for money the purpose was to build the framework and sector capability. In the area of service planning and coordination the purpose was to further develop and apply the framework developed in 2004-05. In the area of health for older people the purpose was to build joint activity with the ministry and district health boards to implement the strategy for health for older people. In the area of supplies efficiency the purpose was to implement targeted initiatives with high returns on investment. That is about saving New Zealanders money. That is about saving the Government money—saving the taxpayers of New Zealand money. In an area called “inter-sectoral” the purpose was to build a way of working and a development framework through specific projects and examples. These are all very important tasks important things that District Health Boards New Zealand did so it is no wonder that it produced many reports and New Zealanders in general and people like members of Parliament wanted to have access to information about them. 
As I said this is just a brief call on my part. I want to underline that members have joined together to congratulate Dr Jackie Blue on bringing this bill before Parliament and on achieving something in a short time. I congratulate the Minister on acknowledging that in his address to the House tonight. This is really a good-news story.