“Andrew Little has again failed to listen to calls to
let health professionals into the country, with today’s
immigration announcement failing to include some of the
medical professionals New Zealand needs the most, ACT says
we should get rid of this clunky system and replace it with
a system that lets people in based on demand,” says
ACT’s Deputy Leader and Health spokesperson Brooke van
Velden.
“Last month a Ministerial Briefing was
leaked to the ACT Party which showed that Health Minister
Andrew Little was fully aware of the shortages across the
health sector, professions on the list such as paramedics
and pharmacists missed out in today’s announcement.
Written Parliamentary Questions show paramedics have a 35.2
per cent vacancy rate.
“ACT’s immigration policy
makes clear that all immigrants with sufficient points would
have a path to residency. Today’s leaky announcement is a
perfect example of why such a simplified and streamlined
system would be better for New Zealand. Under ACT’s
policy, the occupations on the Ministry of Health’s list
would already have a straight path to residency. They would
not have to rely on political whims.
“Just last
month in Parliament I asked Andrew Little why paramedics
aren’t on the list and he replied, “I can’t explain
what has happened in relation to paramedics.” That was a
day after Little had received advice from his own department
that they should be included. Today he still hasn’t
changed anything.
“It’s time Andrew Little and
Michael Wood took their heads out of the sand and listened
to our health workforce, watched the news and stop being so
pig-headed. The health system is in crisis and Kiwis want to
have faith that an ambulance will turn up or they can get
the care their taxes are paying for.
“Unfortunately
the Minister continues to do little. New Zealanders deserve
better.”
© Scoop Media
In the season for humans to be merry, here’s some good news for the animals. In a major animal welfare move, the British Horse Racing Authority has decided that as from 9 January 2023, British jockeys will no longer be allowed to use whips in jump races in the usual forehand position. Instead, they will have to urge the horses onwards with the whip held only in a backhand grip. That change has been given less than a month to bed in – until 6 February – before penalties begin to be imposed. For flat races, the same change will occur over the month from 27 February. So… Will New Zealand’s racing authorities now quickly follow suit..?
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