#BHN Big Hairy News

How can we simultaneously have "record investment in health", while feeling like we're falling behind?  Why will anything less than an additional $1.4B in the Health NZ budget move health backward? How can it be that unmet need, population growth, and inflation are not properly accounted for in our official budget numbers?
Kaitiaki Hauora is a new organisation made up of many groups with an interest in public health, rallying around the well-proven but oft-ignored idea that healthcare privatisation is an expensive, inefficient, and inequitable alternative to universal public healthcare.The Frontline speaks with former intensive care doctor, Dr David Galler, and economist Dr Bill Rosenberg of Kaitiaki Hauora about the tricky world of healthcare spending and the NZ economy.

Paul Barlow of The Collective, political journalist and commentator, joins to co-host for the evening.Scrutiny week has been full of surprises, with just about every Ministry having some skeletons in their closet: Immigration blunder, Shane Jones' limo bills, social housing vibe-ing rent price increases and more.Labour's next health related election promise - free prescriptions to be reinstated. What's the feedback from the public on this policy?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Youth advocate Ruby Love-Smith co-hosts tonight!Education Minister Erica Stanford has confimed some kind of crack-down on social media for young people is on its way, with some kind of policy addressing the issue on its way.In a rare moment, parliament have almost unanimously agreed on a 30-year infrastructure plan to address NZ's incredible infrastructure defect.New polling shows a big surge in support for the political Left. Is this an outlier and how does this compare to other polls of late?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Advocate Katy Thomas joins live to discuss the impact of the Disability Support Services Bill which will overturn a long fought legal battle to recognise legal guardians and family members as full-time careers that should be compensated like any other employee.Labour have announced their latest election policy, free maternity scans for pregnant individuals. It would address another cost pressure associated with pregnancy and reduce the likelihood of complications.Simeon Brown has interfered with the Medical Council of NZ's leadership process and declined to re-appoint the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the council despite seeking to continue in their positions for the next term. Simeon citing the council has become "increasingly distracted by politics" referring to a recent consultation regarding cultural competency.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

National comes out swinging with a full report which suggests there is a big fiscal hole in Labour's election promises.Tangi Utikere was interviewed on Q+A this weekend, questioned extensively on Labour's latest election campaign promise to cap public transport fares across the country to help ease the cost of living.James Meager has been labeled a future National Party leader, a possible future Prime Minister. In a Stuff interview discussing his upbringing and his experience as a first term minister, he certainly mimics the old-school moderate National minister.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/