1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Health Minister Simmy and Brown stepped in to sort out 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: the senior doctor strike. He's told both Health New Zealand 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: and the Senior Doctors' union to go to mandatory arbitration 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: to settle their seemingly endless paid dispute. Health New Zealand 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: has agreed, Senior Doctors haven't. Simon Brown has with meen 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: our high Saman. 7 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 2: Good evening, Heather. 8 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: This is unusual from a minister to step in like this, 9 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: isn't it. 10 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: Well, it's been going on for twelve months now. Both 11 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: parties have not been able to come to an agreement. 12 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 2: The latest offer from Health New Zealand was rejected by 13 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 2: the union on Monday, and the union decided to immediately 14 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: ballot its members to go to strike later this month. 15 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: My view is that's going to be detrimental two thousands 16 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: of patients who've been already waiting too long for care, 17 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: and so I've asked both parties to agree to binding 18 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 2: arbitration so that we can settle this without having further strikes. Yeah. 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Can I just clarify though with you, because I've been 20 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: told ministers don't do this, So is it unusual? 21 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: Well, I guess it's unusual in that I'm asking both 22 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: parties to come to the part come to the table. 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 2: But I have been saying that for some time, so 24 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: I've formally written to them, but I have been saying 25 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: for some time actually that we have to negotiate these deals. 26 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: Striking is not the answer. But look, this is a 27 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: pathway through. I've invited both parties to take part in 28 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: that with an independent arbitrator. I'm pleased at Health New 29 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 2: Zealand has agreed to that. I've provided a deadline of 30 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: four pm tomorrow for the parties to come back to me. 31 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 2: But ultimately this is about ensuring we can find a 32 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: way through where this is settled and agreed without dragging 33 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 2: on and without further impacts on patients who've already been 34 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: waiting too long for the care that they need. Weight 35 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: lists of ballooned. We're making good progress this year with 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: reducing those weight lists. We' seeing some good progress, particularly 37 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: with our elective boost. But if we have further strikes, 38 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: that is going to mean those weight lists will go 39 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: in the wrong direction. So we're trying to we're trying 40 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: to get away through this. 41 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: Listen, is that enough time? Four pm tomorrow? Because where 42 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: as I understand the union is still balancing its members 43 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: as to whether to strike, So they're not going to 44 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: have enough time to go to their members to ask 45 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: whether to go to final arbitration, are they. 46 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: Well, Look, ultimately, that's a question you'd have to put 47 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: to the union. I'm trying to urt a strike. If 48 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: they were to strike, patients would start having their bookings 49 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: canceled from late next week. And so we have timers 50 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: of the essence to actually agree a pathway through which 51 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: does not require further strikes and further cancelation of care 52 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: for patients. So we have acted quickly. Time is of 53 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: the essence to ensure that patients can be put first 54 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: and that we can deal with this and make it 55 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 2: get find a way through and reach an agreement without 56 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 2: further strikes and impacts on patients. 57 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: So me and thank you very much for your time. 58 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: Simmy and Brown are the Health Minister. Helen Duplicy Allen. 59 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: For more from Heather Duplicity Alan Drive, listen live to 60 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 2: news talks. 61 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 62 00:02:59,000 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.