When concerned citizens stood waiting to greet Christopher Luxon at the entrance to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, he instead snuck in through the back door. Perhaps he thought the protesters and their message didn’t fit with the story he’s trying to sell.
But here’s the thing: the South isn’t interested in another empty sales pitch.
In a recent interview with RNZ’s Guyon Espiner, Mr Luxon called us all ‘‘customers’’, a telling insight into the thinking of a prime minister whose government has broken its promise to build Dunedin’s new hospital to full spec.
Our healthcare system isn’t a business, and we’re not ‘‘customers’’. We’re citizens who deserve hospitals that are equipped to meet our needs. The dilution of the plan for our hospital is an insult to every patient, and every overworked nurse and doctor in our community.
The SOS Hospital delegation arrived with Cliff the ambulance at Parliament last week and again the government did its best to play down broken promises. But a petition signed by 34,000 people, aligned with the leadership of southern mayors and councillors, along with New Zealand Nurses Association delegate (and registered nurse) Linda Smillie, made it impossible to ignore.
Indeed, people across the political spectrum understand we are in a health crisis, a crisis that is only increasing as a direct result of this government’s mismanagement and bluster.
It’s pretty clear that health and wellbeing matters to our people. Those protesting outside the prime minister’s speaking engagement had legitimate questions that deserve answers. The SOS hospital delegation deserved an answer.
We all want to know why the government is cutting corners on our hospital and why healthcare is increasingly becoming a privilege instead of a right. Sneaking in the back door doesn’t make those questions go away; it just confirms what many know — that we have a government more comfortable with slogans than solutions.
It’s not just that Mr Luxon won’t front up on our health infrastructure.
Last month, when he came to Dunedin to observe the impacts of our flooding, he brazenly side-stepped questions about why his government earlier this year rejected a mitigation plan to prevent flood risks for low-lying houses in South Dunedin.
If we don’t change tack, New Zealand will see more cuts, more downgrades, and more of us left wondering why our voices are ignored.
We are citizens, not ‘‘customers’’. And we deserve leaders who will put words into action, face our concerns head-on, and ensure healthcare for all.
- Scott Willis MP View
