The new Epidemic Response Committee chaired by the Opposition leader, Simon Bridges, got off to a good start this week with senior officials, ministers and experts being questioned over pandemic response decisions.
Unlike Parliamentary Question Time, where with the input of self-styled court jester, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and linguistic gymnast, Minister Shane Jones, it can be a laugh a minute: the new committee, being streamed online, by comparison, is deadly serious.
There is no opportunity for ministers to deflect, avoid, joke, obfuscate, mislead or personally attack the questioner. And more importantly, to use the well-worn phrase ‘nine years of neglect’, which has become like a protective shield to defend their incompetence.
Health Minister Dr David Clark is particularly adept at using this phrase, in the House. However, there is no way any fault for our current predicament can be laid at the feet of the former National-led government.
Quite the opposite, they have been of immense help, providing a Pandemic Response Plan, which they produced in 2017, in preparation for such emergencies. The government has yet to update it to fit the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that the government only produced and updated the customs form to include COVID-19 questions on the 18th March, are we surprised? But I digress.
Dr Clark was reduced to facing the committee’s questions without his usual defensive arsenal, which he did mainly with prepared rhetoric. And similar to question time, repeating it in a different format until the questioner tired of it and moved onto the next question.
So really it is not much different from Question Time, just delivered with a more serious demeanour and no opportunity to attack and blame the previous government, which must have been a strange experience for him.
And ministers politely addressing the Chair, Simon Bridges, must have been a unique experience for him, given the often-brutal treatment he receives during question time by this kind and caring government.
Minister for Civil Defense Pene Henare was definitely singing from the same songbook as his colleague, his melodious voice almost lulling us to sleep with government-approved rhetoric, rather than actually answering the questions.
How long this will be tolerated by the Chair is debatable. Questions from National’s Simon Bridges, Paul Goldsmith and Michael Woodhouse and Act’s David Seymour were hard-hitting particularly around lack of full quarantine at the border, and rate of testing. Eliciting answers from ministers proved to be more of a chore.
Esteemed epidemiologist, Professor Sir David Skegg, was the star of the show on Tuesday. His harsh criticism of the government was followed by Ardern announcing they would ‘test, test, test’, like she had just invented the idea.
Pressure from the committee and experts is starting to have an effect on the government’s actions. With increased pressure for full quarantine at the border it will be only a matter of time before that is adopted too, if the government wants to keep the public’s support.
The Minister of Health refused a request for an interview on Sunday’s Q & A, saying he regretted he was unavailable that weekend. The arrogance of this highly paid public servant is breath taking.
In the absence of any government officials, Opposition Leader Simon Bridges fronted with three requests of the government: full quarantine at the border, expand testing and make more PPEs available.
Dr Clark, currently ensconced in Dunedin (close to his mountain bike track), should be fronting the crisis and leading by example from his office in Wellington. This is the time we look for guidance from those paid to lead us. Where are they?
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