Mike Hosking: Delivery and confidence - that's what we want from governments

I think we got enough out of Nicola Willis on the programme Friday to know that today, cabinet’s gonna sign off this money for Pharmac to solve the cancer problem.  

The big outworking of this is - I hope they've learned their lesson.  

This government has a couple of problems. The biggest one is the mess they inherited. We are going to spend at least the next year deep in it.  

Two years of economic misery is a lot to ask of an electorate, and it's a lot to expect of a government to rectify.  

Even on a good day - with plenty of intent and hard work - voters get grumpy with whoever’s in charge, whether it was their fault or not.  

So given that, problem #2: self-inflicted wounds. The cancer promise was mad. It was mad because governments don't pick drugs.  

That's what Pharmac is for. If you don't like Pharmac, fine, change it. But don't keep the same system while trying gerrymandering.  

They also put out a list of thirteen drugs, some of which aren't even fit for purpose anymore.  

And then, Problem #3: failure to deliver, I mean OMG – did they learn nothing from Labour?  

And then last week, scrutiny week, Shane Reti says they'll deliver the 13. Nicola Willis says they will deliver some. David Seymour says he can't make a comment because Pharmac is independent.  

Three people, three messages. Mixed messaging - is that problem #4?  

So this week, an answer. And seemingly, an elegant one - more money.  

The money gets spent on stuff that's needed. Not automatically the 13. It's spent by Pharmac. And it might well mean some spending on other drugs as well.  

So, sorted. But big lesson: it never had to be this way.  

And if all they're doing this week is handing out money, why didn't they do it in the budget when they had the chance?  

Delivery and confidence, that's what we want from governments.  

If this is a one off, they'll get away with it. If it's a habit. They're toast. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
I think we got enough out of Nicola Willis on
the program Friday to know that today Cabinet's going to
sign off this money for FARMAK to solve the cancer problem.
The big out working of this is I hope they've
learned their lesson. This government has a couple of problems.
The biggest one is the mess they inherited. Of course,
a mess we are going to spend at least the
next year, and having spent the past year deep in
it as well. Two years of economic misery is a

(00:25):
lot to ask of an electorate, and it's a lot
to expect of a government to try and rectify. Even
on a good day with plenty of intent and hard work,
voters get grumpy with who ever's in charge, no matter
what it was, whether it was actually their fault or not.
So given that problem number two self inflicted wounds, the
cancer promise was mad. It was mad because governments don't
pick drugs. That's what far makers for. If you don't

(00:47):
like farmac, fine change it, but don't keep the same system.
While trying to jerry mandarin, they also put out a
list of thirteen drugs, some of which aren't even fit
for purpose anymore. And then having made the mistake of
making the promise. Problem three failure to deliver, I mean
failure to deliver? Did they learn nothing from labor? And
then last week's scrutiny week Shane Retty says one thing,

(01:07):
they'll deliver the thirteen. Nikola Willa says they will deliver some.
David Cymore says he can't make a comment of far makers, independent,
three people, three messages, mixed messaging is that problem number four?
I think it could be mixed messaging. So this week
an answer and seemingly an elegant one. More money. The
money gets spent on stuff that's needed, not automatically the thirteen.
It's spent by far Mak and it might well mean

(01:29):
some spending on other drugs as well. So sorted, but
big lesson, big lesson. It never had to be this way.
And if all they're doing this week is handing out money,
why didn't they do it in the budget when they
had the chance. Delivery and confidence that's what we want
from governments. If this is a one off, they'll get
away with it. If it's a habit. Their toast for

(01:50):
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